The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail Against It!
The following is a collection of my quiet time notes on the Church. The history of the Christian Church should be an interesting topic to research on. It is amazing that although the Church preaches salvation, the world repaid it with unspeakable resistance. It is also amusing that although some Christian churches are very small, divisions and petty quarrels continue to hound them.
The church of Christ is the most abused institution throughout the centuries. Rulers tried to annihilate it, false teachers tried to corrupt it. But Jesus said, "I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Mat 16:18).
Q. What is a Christian church?
A. A Christian church is an assembly or a congregation of believers in Jesus Christ in a locality (Col 4:15; I Cor 1:2). The Bible speaks of church referring not only to a group of Christian believers in a locality but also to all the born-again believers (Heb 12:23; I Cor 12:12-13). We call the assembly of believers in one locality a Local Church and to the congregation of all true believers in Jesus Christ as the Church of God. Today the phrase Local Church is also used to refer to a group of people meeting in a certain place believing on a set of Christian doctrines sometimes called a Statement of Faith. But it is observed that not all of them are true born-again believers. In many cases false teachers and unbelievers exist in these local churches (see Acts 20:29-30; I John 2:18-19). On the other hand, the Church of God consists only of true believers, "the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven" (Heb 12:23). The same thought is also implied in I Cor 12:12-13.
Q. How was the Church established?
A. The church was established by Jesus Christ (Mat 16:15-19). It was born on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on a group of disciples praying in the upper room (Acts 2:1-47). Since that day, the Holy Spirit causes the church to grow and as a result numerous small churches were established from Jerusalem, to Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Q. What is the organizational structure of the church?
A. Jesus Christ is the head and all believers are members of the church (Eph 5:23; I Cor 12:14-31). Some believers are called or chosen by the Holy Spirit to leadership positions. So we hear of pastors, deacons, evangelists, teachers, apostles, and prophets. They lead, feed, and oversee the flock of God. However, let us be reminded that they are not superior to other believers. They are also servants of God. In this connection, the apostle Peter warned the elders that they should not act "as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock" (I Pet 5:1-4). On the other hand, believers are commanded to submit to God-appointed elders (I Pet 5:5; 2 Thes 3:12-15).
Q. What are the objectives of the Church?
A. The church exists for the purpose of Christian fellowship, worship, and as God's witness of the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ to all world. During the time of the apostles, believers gather together for fellowship: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42). Believers need a kind of fellowship different from what the world offers (I John 2:15-17; Eph 5:11-12). They need godly fellowship which the church must provide. This does not refer to religious ceremonies or formalities. The church should provide a fellowship that exhibits the love of Christ. "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34-35). "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Heb 10:24-25).
Beside Christian fellowship, the church must worship Jesus Christ, its Lord and Savior. "And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead so that in everything he might have the supremacy" (Col 1:18). The church's aim is to make Christ the object of worship and adoration of all believers. "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Gal 1:14). "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil 2:9-11).
The church is also given the task of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and, lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world" (Mat 28:19-20). Since our God is the ruler of the universe, our aim is to saturate the world with the gospel of our King -- the Lord Jesus Christ. All the other activities are second priority. Witnessing, world missions, and discipleship are the bases of existence of the church. Let not the church's vision be narrowed to a certain province, region, or country. It is God's commandment to reach all nations with the message of salvation in Jesus Christ (Luke 24:47-48). These are the things that the Church must fulfill until Jesus Christ returns to establish His kingdom on earth.
The Lord also imparted spiritual gifts to believers in order to build up the members of His church (Eph 4:11-16; II Cor 10:8; 12:19). And while the church waits for the Lord's coming, she is also instructed to observe the ordinances instituted by Jesus Christ namely, baptism by immersion, and the Lord's supper. Baptism is part of spreading the gospel (Mat 28:19-20). It is not a prerequisite for salvation. It is an ordinance performed after a person has repented of his sins and received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. On the other hand, the Lord's Supper is done regularly to commemorate Jesus' sacrifice for our sins (Luke 22:19; I Cor 11:23-26).
The church of Christ is the most abused institution throughout the centuries. Rulers tried to annihilate it, false teachers tried to corrupt it. But Jesus said, "I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Mat 16:18).
Q. What is a Christian church?
A. A Christian church is an assembly or a congregation of believers in Jesus Christ in a locality (Col 4:15; I Cor 1:2). The Bible speaks of church referring not only to a group of Christian believers in a locality but also to all the born-again believers (Heb 12:23; I Cor 12:12-13). We call the assembly of believers in one locality a Local Church and to the congregation of all true believers in Jesus Christ as the Church of God. Today the phrase Local Church is also used to refer to a group of people meeting in a certain place believing on a set of Christian doctrines sometimes called a Statement of Faith. But it is observed that not all of them are true born-again believers. In many cases false teachers and unbelievers exist in these local churches (see Acts 20:29-30; I John 2:18-19). On the other hand, the Church of God consists only of true believers, "the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven" (Heb 12:23). The same thought is also implied in I Cor 12:12-13.
Q. How was the Church established?
A. The church was established by Jesus Christ (Mat 16:15-19). It was born on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on a group of disciples praying in the upper room (Acts 2:1-47). Since that day, the Holy Spirit causes the church to grow and as a result numerous small churches were established from Jerusalem, to Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Q. What is the organizational structure of the church?
A. Jesus Christ is the head and all believers are members of the church (Eph 5:23; I Cor 12:14-31). Some believers are called or chosen by the Holy Spirit to leadership positions. So we hear of pastors, deacons, evangelists, teachers, apostles, and prophets. They lead, feed, and oversee the flock of God. However, let us be reminded that they are not superior to other believers. They are also servants of God. In this connection, the apostle Peter warned the elders that they should not act "as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock" (I Pet 5:1-4). On the other hand, believers are commanded to submit to God-appointed elders (I Pet 5:5; 2 Thes 3:12-15).
Q. What are the objectives of the Church?
A. The church exists for the purpose of Christian fellowship, worship, and as God's witness of the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ to all world. During the time of the apostles, believers gather together for fellowship: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42). Believers need a kind of fellowship different from what the world offers (I John 2:15-17; Eph 5:11-12). They need godly fellowship which the church must provide. This does not refer to religious ceremonies or formalities. The church should provide a fellowship that exhibits the love of Christ. "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34-35). "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Heb 10:24-25).
Beside Christian fellowship, the church must worship Jesus Christ, its Lord and Savior. "And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead so that in everything he might have the supremacy" (Col 1:18). The church's aim is to make Christ the object of worship and adoration of all believers. "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Gal 1:14). "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil 2:9-11).
The church is also given the task of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and, lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world" (Mat 28:19-20). Since our God is the ruler of the universe, our aim is to saturate the world with the gospel of our King -- the Lord Jesus Christ. All the other activities are second priority. Witnessing, world missions, and discipleship are the bases of existence of the church. Let not the church's vision be narrowed to a certain province, region, or country. It is God's commandment to reach all nations with the message of salvation in Jesus Christ (Luke 24:47-48). These are the things that the Church must fulfill until Jesus Christ returns to establish His kingdom on earth.
The Lord also imparted spiritual gifts to believers in order to build up the members of His church (Eph 4:11-16; II Cor 10:8; 12:19). And while the church waits for the Lord's coming, she is also instructed to observe the ordinances instituted by Jesus Christ namely, baptism by immersion, and the Lord's supper. Baptism is part of spreading the gospel (Mat 28:19-20). It is not a prerequisite for salvation. It is an ordinance performed after a person has repented of his sins and received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. On the other hand, the Lord's Supper is done regularly to commemorate Jesus' sacrifice for our sins (Luke 22:19; I Cor 11:23-26).
posted by Pids Nogales | 11:20 AM
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