The Establishment of the Church of Christ #4

A. The group of believing people known in the New Testament as the “church” of Jesus Christ, is a
unique entity. Its pristine integrity must always be protected, defended, preserved and its beauty
valued by every genuine Christian of the modern world. The church is a body of baptized believers
who have been called – through the gospel – into a special relationship with God. That’s what Paul
called the church in the city of Thessalonica, “God called you to this through our gospel, that you
might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thess. 2:14.
The church is the culmination of all the promises and covenants established by God to accomplish the salvation and restoration of mankind back to Himself. Everything God has done in history, from the garden until now, has pointed to this moment in time. That’s why we find a parallel, a common purpose between the events of the Old and New Testaments.
a. Under the Mosaic Covenant God’s people were designated as “Israel.” The church is the new
“Israel of God,” Gal. 6:16; those who follow Christ are called the “Israel of God.” Rom.
2:28?29. “A man is not a Jew (Israelite) if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely
outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision
of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written law.” That’s Paul’s statement in Rom 9:6?7, “For
they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children just because they are the seed
of Abraham...” We become Israel, God’s chosen people, by faith in Christ Jesus.
Acts 7:38, Stephen rehearses the Israel’s history and speaks about Moses with Israel and
says, “He was in the assembly in the desert, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living words to pass on to us.” That word
assembly is the New Testament Greek word “ekklesia.” Translated as “The called out.”
Used by Jesus and the apostles to describe the Church. The Church is those people who
are “called out” of the world into the New Testament Kingdom of Christ. From Stephen’s
statement, we learn that, the Church and the Nation of Israel were the “called out”
people of God in two different covenant dispensations.
(1) There was a divinely?designed “house of God” under the Mosaic covenant. And today
that “House of God” Is the church. Isa. 2:2-4, prophesied about it in these words.
(a) Eph. 2:19, tells the Gentiles that this prophesy is fulfilled by their being brought
into fellowship with God, in the church, by the blood of Jesus. That’s what
Paul is talking about in Gal. 3:23-29. 1 Tim. 3:15, Paul writes to Timothy
saying, “I am writing you these instructions so that...you will know how people
ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the
living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” The church is the “House of
God” and as such it is the place where people (Both Jew and Gentile) learn
the truth about God. They take that truth make it real in their own lives and
proclaim it to the lost world in which they live. We are the only “pillar and
foundation” of the truth there is in this world. We are to cherish and protect
and preach that truth. That’s why Jude 3, commands us (the church) to
“...contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” If
we don’t nobody else will. Islam won’t, they hate it. The Mormons and
Jehovah’s Witnesses won’t, they pervert it by making it an Agnostic and
Satanic cult. Catholicism and protestant denominationalism won’t, they ignore
it and make it teach what ever you want it to teach.
1 Pet. 4:17-18. Our responsibility is to not be like the those in the world. 1 Pet. 2:9?12. As God’s New Testament Church we are unique, God’s own special people who uphold and protect His Holy Word. We keep the church and the Word of God pure, uncluttered from worldly, carnal, man-made ordinances and traditions.

(2) The church established by Jesus is not an afterthought. The church was in the mind of God before the foundation of the world, Eph. 1:4. One of the apostle Paul’s most important teachings is that the manifold wisdom of God is made known “through the church,” according to the “eternal purpose” which was brought to reality by the mission of Christ. Read it for your self in Eph.3:10?12. Before God ever created the world, He ordained that through Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, we would be freed from the condemnation of sin so we could approach God’s throne and confidently know our sins would no longer condemn us.
(1) By that process we would become “Spiritual Israel,” “The House of God,” “God’s special people” who would live with Him eternally. Question? Have you taken the steps to make that a reality in your life? If not, why not? I you don’t know how. Ask me and I’ll not only tell you how, I’ll help you do it.
(2) Acts 20:32.

02/05/03 am