The Church Test
Yeshua (Jesus) is building His Church
This writer believes that we need to test ourselves on the true purpose of the church; its founding and what it should look like today. The following is a condensation of ‘The Church’ series. Beginning in MEM 236 thru MEM 245
(For a more complete understanding of this most important topic see the full issues of this series.)
This church clearly is not the actual church as we know it on earth, with its divisions, its blemishes, its shortcomings in faith and love and obedience.
This series is based on ‘The Church’ as taken from the ISBE (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia) as written by J. C. Lambert.
(Editing done, by MEM, to highlight topic principles.)
MEM 236The Church
The word "church" (Greek "Ekklesia")
Yeshua (Jesus) "I will build My church"
Matt 16:15 (NKJV unless indicated)
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."ISBE Outline
church:
I. PRE-CHRISTIAN HISTORY OF THE TERM
II. ITS ADOPTION BY JESUS
III. ITS USE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
1. In the Gospels
2. In Acts
3. In the Pauline Epistles
IV. THE NOTES OF THE CHURCH
1. Faith
2. Fellowship
3. Unity
4. Consecration
5. Power
V. ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH
1. The General and Prophetic Ministry
2. The Local and Practical Ministry
LITERATURE (highlighting by MEM)
The word "church," which is derived from kuriakos, "of or belonging to the Lord," … in the New Testament the Greek word Ekklesia; … the nature of the society which the word is there used to describe…
I. Pre-Christian History of the Term.
Throughout the Greek world and right down to New Testament times, Ekklesia was the designation of the regular assembly of the whole body of citizens in a free city-state, "called out"…. to the Jew a theocratic society whose members were the subjects of the Heavenly King.
II. Its Adoption by Jesus.
According to Mt 16:18 the name Ekklesia was first applied to the Christian society by Jesus Himself, the occasion being that of His benediction of Peter at Caesarea Philippi. … It is true that Jesus had hitherto described the society He came to found as the "kingdom of God" or the "kingdom of heaven," a designation which had its roots in Old Testament teaching and which the Messianic expectations of Israel had already made familiar.
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The Church - The called out ones = Belonging to the Lord
John 13:13
"You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.
Ephesians 1:22
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.**********
MEM 237The Church
ISBE:
III. ITS USE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
1. In the Gospels
2. In Acts
3. In the Pauline Epistles
1. In the Gospels:
If, as is probable, the Ekklesia of Mt 18:17 is the Christian Ekklesia of which Christ had already spoken to Peter, the words show that He conceived of the church as a society possessing powers of self-government, in which questions of discipline were to be decided by the collective judgment of the members.
2. In Acts:
In Acts the ekklesia has come to be the regular designation for the society of Christian believers, but is employed in two distinct senses. First in a local sense, to denote the body of Christians in a particular place or district, as in Jerusalem … Rev 1:4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia…
Then in a wider and what may be called a universal sense, to denote the sum total of existing local churches … which are thus regarded as forming one body.
Acts 9:31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace …3. In the Pauline Epistles:
In the Pauline Epistles both of these usages are frequent. (Local and universal)
Thus the apostle writes of "the church of the Thessalonians" …"the church of God which is at Corinth" … in private houses for worship and fellowship)…
Matt 18:20
"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."The universal use
… 1Cor 10:32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,The church, now, is the body of which Christ is the head
Col 1:24 … for the sake of His body, which is the church, Eph 3:9-11**********
MEM 238The Church
Essential Characteristics of the Church
Yeshua (Jesus) is building His Church Matt 16:18… on this rock I will build My church…"
ISBE:
IV. THE NOTES* OF THE CHURCH
1. Faith
2. Fellowship
3. Unity
4. Consecration
5. Power
*To Note: notice or pay particular attention to (something): Synonyms: bear in mind · be mindful of · consider · observe
1. Faith:
Although a systematic doctrine of the church is neither to be found nor to be looked for in the New Testament, certain characteristic notes or features of the Christian society are brought before us from which we can form some conception as to its nature.
Faith is a fundamental note of His Church.
Primarily the church is a society not of thinkers or workers or even of worshippers, but of believers. Hence, we find that "believers" or "they that believed" is constantly used as a synonym for the members of the Christian society (e.g.).
Acts 2:44 Now all who believed were together…Until Jesus found a man full of faith He could not begin to build His church
; and unless Peter had been the prototype of others whose faith was like his own, the walls of the church would never have risen into the air. Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized…This church-founding and church-building faith, of which baptism was the seal, was much more than an act of intellectual assent. It was a personal laying hold of the personal Savior, the bond of a vital union between Christ and the believer which resulted in nothing less than a new creation
2Cor 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.2. Fellowship:
If faith in Christ is the fundamental note of the Christian society, the next is fellowship … for if each believer is vitally joined to Christ, all believers must stand in a living relation to one another. Rom 12:5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
That the Christian society was recognized from the first as a fellowship appears from the name "the brethren,"
… 1Thess 4:10 … all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;3. Unity:
… The unity of the church was clearly recognized from the first. … There was but one church.
Acts 11:22… with their vision of the church as a body of which Christ is the head, a body animated by one spirit, and having one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.
Eph 4:4And this unity, it is to be noticed, is conceived of as a visible unity. …a common faith in acts of mutual love.
Eph 4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;Although local congregations sprang up wherever the gospel was preached, and each of these enjoyed an independent life of its own, the unity of the church was clearly recognized from the first. Though there were many churches, there was but one church.
4. Consecration:
Another dominant note of the New Testament church lay in the consecration of its members. "Saints" … an objective meaning; the sainthood of the Christian society consisted in its separation from the world by God's electing grace…
1Pet 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;… The flame "saints" carried within it the thought of an ethical holiness-- in an actual and practical saintliness, a consecration to God that finds expression in character and conduct. Not yet perfect: … Consecration to God is their outward calling and status as believers; but also because he is assured that a work of real sanctification is going on… must cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2Cor 7:1
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.5. Power:
Yet another note of the church was spiritual power. When the name Ekklesia was given by Jesus to the society He came to found, His promise to Peter included the bestowal of the gift of power.
Matt 16:19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."The apostle was to receive the "power of the keys," i.e. he was to exercise the privilege of opening the doors of the kingdom of heaven to the Jew and to the Gentile (
Acts 10:34-38). Acts 15:7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.To the Christian society there thus belonged the double power of legislating for its own members and of opening the kingdom of heaven to all believers
. …She (the Church) believed that Christ was with her always, even unto the end of the world, and that the power with which she was endued was power from on high. Luke 24:49 "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father … until you are endued with power from on high."**********
MEM 239The Church
ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH
ISBE:
V. ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH (Highlighting by MEM)
1. The General and Prophetic Ministry
2. The Local and Practical Ministry
In the first days after Pentecost they had no thought of separating themselves from the religious life of Israel, and would not realize the need of any distinct organization of their own. The temple-worship was still adhered to, though it was supplemented by apostolic teaching, by prayer and fellowship, and by the breaking of bread. Organization was a thing of gradual growth suggested by emerging needs, and the differentiation of function among those who were drawn into the service of the church was due to the difference in the gifts bestowed by God upon the church members. 1Cor 12:28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
1. The General and Prophetic Ministry:
From
Acts 6:1 we see that the Twelve recognized that they were Divinely called as apostles to proclaim the gospel; and Paul repeatedly makes the same claim for himself. 1Cor 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel…But apostleship was by no means confined to the Twelve; and an itinerant ministry of the word was exercised in differing ways by prophets, evangelists, and teachers, as well as by apostles.
Eph 4:11-12The fact that Paul himself is variously described as an apostle, a prophet, a teacher appears to show that the prophetic ministry was not a ministry of stated office, but one of special gifts and functions.
2Tim 1:11; Eph 3:52. The Local and Practical Ministry:
The earliest examples of this are the Seven of Jerusalem who were entrusted with the care of the "daily ministration" (
Ac 6:1 ). With the growth of the church, however, other needs arose, and the local ministry is seen developing in two distinct directions.First there is the presbyter or elder, otherwise known as the bishop or overseer, whose duties, while still local, are chiefly of a spiritual kind.
Acts 20: 28
"… the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.Next there are the deacon and the deaconess, whose work appears to have lain largely in house to house visitation and a practical ministry to the poor and needy.
1Tim 3:8-9The general ministry, however, was still recognized to be the higher of the two
. Paul addresses the presbyter- bishops of Ephesus in a tone of lofty spiritual authority. Acts 20:17
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Beginning with MEM 240 thru 245 is a more extensive study on the four Notes (attributes, fundamentals, features) of the Church, the Christian society. Go to our web-site to read the detail of these essentials. We encourage all to use them to examine our lives in light of these ‘Notes’.
MEM 240What are some of the Fundamentals of the Church?
Defining Faith
church:
IV. THE NOTES OF THE CHURCH
1. Faith
(Part I)Faith is a key that is easy to say but difficult to define. As believers how do we relate to this vital concept? Keep in mind that some translations substitute other words for faith; such as; Trust; Belief; Believe; Reliance; Confidence; Fidelity; etc. How would you define faith by using the following Scriptures?
Rom 10:17
(NKJV unless indicated) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.2Cor 5:7
for we walk by faith, not by sight --Matt 17:20
And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; …Luke 8:25
And He said to them, "Where is your faith?" …Luke 17:5
… to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"In the Greek (NT) the word "faith" appears 278 times.
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Why Faith?
Heb 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.Gill - "…but that faith which is the faith of God's elect, the gift of his grace, and the operation of his power; which sees the Son, goes to him, ventures on him, trusts in him, lives upon him, and works by love to him."
Faith = Trust
…"faith" normally means "reliance," "trust." Thus "faith" is our side of union with Christ. And thus it is our means of possessing all His benefits, pardon, justification, purification, life, peace, glory. (ISBE Handley Dunelm)
Prov 3:3 CJB
Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, 4 And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.****
The rewards of believing in YHVH start with hearing the truth
; about being fully persuaded of His Sovereignty.Romans 10:11-14
For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed." … abounding in riches for all who call upon Him; for "Whoever will call upon the name of the LORD will be saved." How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?**********
MEM 241The Fundamentals of the Church
Defining Faith
church:
IV. THE NOTES OF THE CHURCH
1. Faith
(Part II)
Faith Message - Part Two
Thus "faith" is our side of union with Christ
. (Trust; Belief; Reliance; Confidence; Fidelity…)About faith:
John 20:31
but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.Martha’s confession
John 11:27
She said to Him, "Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world."(John uses believe in his writhing’s … thus in most cases faith = belief)
A faith Test:
Gal 2:20
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.Believing faith - requires action:
Hebrews 11:33
who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions…Faith brings rewards:
Acts 15:11
"But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus…Mark 10:52
And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well…Faith is quantifiable:
Rom 12:6
… according to the proportion of his faith;One grows in faith:
2Cor 10:15
… that as your faith grows…A concerning statement:
Luke 18:8
"… However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"Doubt destroys faith:
Jas 1:6
But let him ask in faith without any doubting…Rom 14:23
But he who doubts … and whatever is not from faith is sin.How we might deny the faith:
1Tim 5:8
But if anyone does not provide for his own… he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.Faith is a law?
Rom 3:27
… By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.Much more; see full issue
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MEM 242Second Fundamental of the Church
Fellowship follows those of ‘The Faith’
church:
IV. THE NOTES OF THE CHURCH
2. Fellowship
The fellowship is probably to be understood as that prevailing among Christians by virtue of the grace of Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
1 John 1:3
that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
RWP - "Yea, and our fellowship
. Careful explanation of his meaning in the word "fellowship" (partnership), involving fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ and only possible in Christ."***
Purpose in fellowship
Heb 10:23
- 25Abiding in Yeshua
John 15:4
Fellowship = Participation
2Cor 8:4
Fellowship of the Spirit
Phil 2:1
Fellowship with Messiah and His sufferings
Phil 3:10
Fellowship together and with the Father and His Son
1John 1:3
This fellowship is of and by Christ Jesus
1Cor 1:30
Those of the fellowship are companions / partakers of Christ
Heb 3:14 NKJV
For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,NT Fellowship
1 Corinthians 1:9
(NKJV) God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.The value of "Fellowship"
Rom 12:5
so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.Warning! Avoid any harmful fellowship
1Cor 10:20
… and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.2Cor 6:14; Eph 5:11**********
MEM 243Third Fundamental of the Church
Unity
church:
IV. THE NOTES OF THE CHURCH
3. Unity
Although local congregations sprang up wherever the gospel was preached, and each of these enjoyed an independent life of its own, the unity of the church was clearly recognized from the first.
Though there were many churches, there is but one church.
Psalm 133:1
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!
The state of being united or joined as a whole:SIMILAR:
Union
; unification; integration; amalgamation; coalitionHarmony; accord; concord; concurrence; cooperation - a thing forming a complex whole:
Oneness; singleness; wholeness; entity; integrity
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Amos 3:3
Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?Being one or single of minded
Unity is the state of being one or single of minded. We are to be likeminded with Christ and renew our minds to the endurance and encouragement the scripture offers us. We should make an effort to dwell in the spirit of unity between believers; there should be no divisions or arguments among us.
The Spirit of Unity -
Romans 15:5-6Oneness
If you look at the definition of unity in the Bible, you would find that ‘unity’ in its original language means oneness. God has made His people one together with Him through the Holy Spirit. We are bound as one body for the purpose of furthering His kingdom and His glory.
Yeshua (Jesus), emphasized Oneness.
John 17:20
"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.****
Antonyms & Near Antonyms for Unity:
disunity; tension; violence; imbalance; asymmetry; incoherence; disproportion; disorganization; confusionProv 6:19
A
false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.
A big cause for division
(disunity; discord; confusion) in the church today is false ‘Doctrine’Rom 16:17
Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.Give heed to the Doctrine
(Teachings) of Messiah1Tim 6:1
… so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 2Tim 3:16 Titus 1:9; Titus 2:1; Titus 2:7**********
MEM 244Fourth fundamental of the Church
Called to be SAINTS
IV. THE NOTES OF THE CHURCH
4. Consecration
This note in the church lay in the consecration of its members. "Saints" - the sainthood of the Christian society consisted in its separation from the world by God's electing grace;
1Cor 1:2
To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 2Cor 5:17; 2Cor 6:17 Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate…… by the progressive sanctification of its members, that the church itself is to be sanctified and cleansed, until Christ can present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing (
Eph 5:26-27).****
Webster 1828
CONSECRATION
1. The act or ceremony of separating from a common to a sacred use, or of devoting and dedicating a person or thing to the service and worship of God, by certain rites or solemnities. Consecration does not make a person or thing really holy, but declares it to be sacred, that is, devoted to God or to divine service…
Strong’s Consecrate: to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate (Total KJV Occurrences: 171)
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Called to be saints
Romans 1:7
… beloved of God, called to be saints…Eph 2:19
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,YHVH will reign with His Saints
Dan 7:18
'But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever… 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom. Zech 14:5; Jude 1:14; Rev 15:3**********
MEM 245The fifth fundamental note of the Church
Spiritual Power
IV. THE NOTES OF THE CHURCH
5. Power
First and foremost we must recognize that all Power and Authority is from on High.
Power
Strong’s
- Dunamis Total KJV Occurrences: (95) • might 4 • mighty 2 • miracles 8 • power 58 • powers 3 • strength 5 • works 7Matt 6:13
… For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Luke 22:69; Rev 19:12Cor 13:10
…according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.Power to bind and loose
Matt 18:15-20
To make a judgment
1Cor 5:1-5
To forgive
2Cor 2:6-8
God’s church in action; exercising its power and authority
Acts 15:1-29
Authority thru Messiah
2Cor 13:1-4
Called to judge righteously:
1Cor 6:1-5; Daniel 7:22 Rev 2:26
"And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations --Power to witness
Acts 1:8
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."Acts 4:33; Eph 6:10; 2Tim 1:7-8; Heb 4:12
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword…Power for godliness
2Pet 1:3
as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness…****
Now there is a power of darkness
Luke 22:53
"… But this is your hour, and the power of darkness." John 19:11; Rev 13:2; 2Thess 2:9The Power over the power of darkness
Heb 2:14
Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, Col 2:15; Acts 26:18; Eph 2:2; Eph 6:12****
A clear message for the Ekklesia of Yeshua
Titus 2:15
Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority…2Tim 3:1-
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!In Conclusion
Eph 1:19
and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.Amen
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