Content Page
Chapter 1 RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF GOD - PAGE 3
Chapter 2 CHRIST ORGANIZES HIS CHURCH - PAGE 5
Chapter 3 THE DIFFERENCE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD
AND THE CHURCH OF GOD - PAGE 7
Chapter 4 THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH - PAGE 11
Chapter 5 THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH - PAGE 14
Chapter 6 A DIVINE REVELATION - PAGE 20
Chapter 7 THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT - PAGE 24
Test - PAGE 26
THE BODY OF CHRIST COURSE
In this study of the Church, we have referred to it as the Body of Christ Course because the "body" is one of the analogies Scripture uses when speaking of the Church.
1 Corthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Chapter 1
RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF GOD
This course is a scriptural study of the divine institution that the Bible calls the Church. In this course, we will look at several passages of Scripture that will help us understand more about the Church and God's purpose for it. Today there are many ideas that people have about what constitutes the Church or the body of Christ, as we call it here, but many of those ideas are not based on Scripture. One of our goals in this study is to provide sufficient biblical support for what we present
In order for people to learn the truth from God's Word concerning any matter, they must be willing to let go of preconceived ideas that do not coincide with the Word of God. This is difficult for many people to do because of attachments to certain beliefs or groups, but an honest-hearted person who seeks the truth will open their eyes, ears and hearts to God. Jesus said that his sheep hear His voice.
St. John 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
St. John 10:5 And a stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
Have you ever spent a good amount of time searching for something, when all the time what you were looking for was right in front of you? We often don't find things in life because in our mind we have them pictured differently. If it doesn't fit the pattern or description we have in our mind, we look right over it. God's truths in His Word are often like that.
Many are unable to see God's truths because of the un-truths they have been taught. God wants to shine His light of understanding into their hearts and minds, but wrong ideology and interpretation of the Scripture that they have accumulated from the past often prevents them from conceptually grasping God's message.
People interpret the Scriptures based on what they already know or think they know. If Scripture appears to contradict their previous understanding of things, they often twist the Word to conform to their beliefs. Instead of conforming to the Word, they (perhaps unintentionally at times) try to reconstruct the Word. God's truths are all right there in His Word for people to see, but because of those preconceptions, people's understanding of things is often limited or distorted.
The Bible says that He has hidden some things from some people and revealed those same things to others. Sometimes the lack of understanding or revelation from God may be due to disobedience on the part of the individual. Sometimes it could be arrogance with the individual not willing to acknowledge that their comprehension of something has been wrong.
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Matthew 11:26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
The Bible must be the foundation upon which all our beliefs rest. We must walk carefully before God and use His Word as our guide in life, lest we be led astray by the deceit of the enemy.
This reminds us of one of the most common warnings in the New Testament about the end-times, which is the admonition not to be deceived. Following are some things that every Christian should take very seriously in this late day and hour.
- Don't let someone interpret Scripture for you without doing your own due diligence in checking to see if what they say is biblically correct.
- Don't assume that the majority is always right.
- Don't let the popularity or unpopularity of what is said sway you.Don't assume that well-known clichés that have been around for ages are always true.
- Don't accept stories and illustrations that aren't backed up by God's Word as truth, no matter how appropriate and persuasive they are.
Be a wise steward of your life and pick up the Word of God. It doesn’t take a preacher to understand God's Word. Remember, He did not say, that all preachers hear my word and know my voice. He did say, His sheep know His voice!
Get your Bibles ready! We're going to delve deeper into some passages of Scripture concerning the Church and hopefully connect the dots to help us get a picture of the beautiful institution that Jesus established, called the Church.
Chapter 2
CHRIST ORGANIZES HIS CHURCH
The Scripture teaches us that Christ Himself established the Church of God while He was here on earth. It was toward the beginning of His ministry that He did this. Jesus Himself declared that He would build His Church and this He did some two thousand years ago.
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
In another passage, Jesus Himself speaks of taking a far journey, which indicated His trip back to the Father that He would soon take, and then goes on to say that He would leave His house here. The house He spoke of was the Church. So, from this illustration that Jesus gave, we understand that His Church would have already been established when He left.
Mark 13:34 For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
Mark 13:35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
The fact that Jesus said that He would build His Church and that when He left to go back to the Father He left His Church here, tells us that it was already in existence before the day of Pentecost.
Many erroneously teach that the Church was established on the day of Pentecost, but this could not be. The Church was empowered on the day of Pentecost with the endowment of the Holy Ghost, but it was already established before that day. The Church of God was established by Jesus Himself while He was here on this earth. The following verses tell of the Church’s beginning.
Mark 3:13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.
Mark 3:14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
This mountain spoken of in Mark 3:13 is believed to be Kurn Hattin, but the fact that it was on a mountain where Jesus established His Church is of itself very significant and aligns with prophecy. Following are three different prophetic passages of Scripture in the Old Testament which point to what took place on this mountain.
Psalm 72:16 There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
When Jesus established His Church in Mark 3, there were only a handful of people there. He had gathered his disciples and organized them for the work. This is where the Church had its beginning, as Psalm 72 says, with just a handful. It was from this small beginning that this world would experience a shaking like they had never experienced before.
Micah 4:1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
Micah 4:2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
In this passage, we are again told that the Church would be established on a mountain. The term "house of the Lord" is used in referring to the Church. The New Testament also refers to the Church as a house. It is clear from this prophetic passage of Scripture that the Word of the Lord would flow from this house (the Church).
Isaiah 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted upon the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
Isaiah's prophecy that we just read is similar to that of Micah's and also mentions the establishment of the Church on a mountain.
We have these three prophecies stating that the Church would be established on a mountain. These prophecies would support what happened in Mark 3:13-14. We have the words of Jesus saying that He would build His Church. We have the illustration that Jesus used in Mark 13 indicating that He would leave His house here when He ascended back to the Father. Therefore, it must have already been established before He left. Many teach that the Church had its beginning on the day of Pentecost, but there is no scriptural evidence to support this. What did happen on the day of Pentecost was the Church, which already existed, was endowed with the power of the Holy Ghost.
According to Acts 1:15, there were about 120 people present at the upper room before the day of Pentecost. Jesus had already established His Church before the day of Pentecost, but on the day of Pentecost the Church experienced tremendous growth. The Scripture speak of thousands being added to the Church on that day. To add to something, that something must have already existed. Notice the words "added unto them" in the next verse. The Bible says that the three thousand that gladly received His Word and were baptized, were added to them. The "them" spoken of here were already members of the Church before the day of Pentecost.
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Chapter 3
THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH
Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Ephesians 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
While there are many people who use the word Church frequently, many of them lack understanding of God's purpose for the Church. In this course we will discuss God's plans and purpose for it. Figuratively speaking, the Church is Christ’s body here on earth to carry out His work. Paul said that we are, "the fullness of him that filleth all in all.” By this, Paul meant that the purpose of the Church is to continue the work of God that He began through Jesus and to help bring it to completion. In another passage of Scripture, Paul speaks of how his life is not his own, but Christ's. The same is true of the Church as a whole. Scripture tells us that Jesus purchased God's Church with His own blood and that she is not her own but rather His. As the Church, must glorify Him with our lives. There is no better way to glorify Him than for the Church to carry out His purpose for her.
Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
- GOD'S PURPOSE FOR THE CHURCH IS TO DEFEND AND SUPPORT THE FAITH
A person does not have to look around too much in order to see why God commissioned His Church to be a guardian and defender of the faith. There are so many false beliefs circulating today. The apostle Paul alerted us to this and used the term "every wind of doctrine" to put us on guard against the devil's efforts to deceive us. God, foreknowing the future and the attack that would come on His Word, created His Church to preserve and proclaim His Truth.
Jude, along with other Church leaders, understood the Church's purpose to carry God's Word forward and untarnished. Listen to the words of Jude.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
The mission and purpose of the Church of God is not to establish a new faith or change the faith, but to contend for the faith of Jesus Christ - the faith that was once delivered to the saints. Jesus alone is the author of THE FAITH and there is a somber warning from Him to anyone who tries to add to or take away from it. We have not been given the privilege of changing it just because we don't like it or because it goes against the custom of the day. There is no allowance or provision at all in which we can change the FAITH, but many are trying to do just that in this day in which we live. They are trying to rewrite the FAITH. We cannot change the FAITH (doctrine) just because the world around us is changing. It doesn't matter if ninety-nine percent of the population now lives a certain way. Customs and lifestyles may change, but God's Word does not.
One of God's warnings about the end time is the abandonment of faith. All we have to do is look around us and we can see this happening today. In many church organizations, members would be shocked if they knew all the beliefs that have been abandoned by their organization down through the years. God's Church is commissioned to stand firm on all those things that she stood on in New Testament times.
Listen to what Paul says about his commitment to the Word of God.
Philippians 1:17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel.
Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Perhaps one of the clearest stated passages of Scripture concerning God's purpose for the Church in in regards to her being the supporting element of truth is found in the following verse.
1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thysef in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
These well-chosen words of the Apostle Paul reveal one of the great purposes and identifying marks of the Church. To be the Church, she must be a supporting element of truth. Paul says that the Church is the "pillar and ground of the truth." Christ established her for this purpose and to carry His Word forward, untarnished and in its fullness. The mindset and heartthrob of the Church must be to make sure that everything in which she believes, preaches, and practices supports God's Word. He entrusted the Church to not only preach, but also to preserve His Word. Within every member of the Church there should be a commitment to do just that and stand firm on the Word of God.
- GOD'S PURPOSE FOR THE CHURCH IS TO TAKE THE WHOLE GOSPEL TO THE WHOLE WORLD
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
While reaching the world with the message of salvation is a very important part of the Church's mission, her purpose is not completed without taking the whole message to the whole world. Notice the Lord's commandment: "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:" In accordance with the command of Jesus to preach the ALL THINGS message, listen to what the apostle Paul says in the following verses:
Acts 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Today, many religious organizations have bowed to the pressures of the world and no longer preach or teach the things they once did. In much of the Christian community today there is a definate "DRIFT" from Truth and Righteousness. As we alluded to earlier, many Christians have not taken the time to look back down the historical path from which their religious group came from to see what it once taught in the past. If they would do this, many would be surprised when they saw just how far their organizations have drifted from where they once were.
- GOD'S PURPOSE FOR THE CHURCH IS TO PROVIDE A GATHERING PLACE FOR ALL HIS SHEEP
St. John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Here, St. John chapter 10, Jesus speaks of a fold in which He purposes to bring other of his sheep into. Jesus speaks of having one fold. Why not have many folds? We can see what is happening in the denominational system today. There is no common belief concerning God's Word. There is little fellowship between organizations. There is very little working hand-in-hand between organizations and no seeing eye to eye, like God describes is to happen in the Church.
God wants His sheep in one fold not only for the sake of unity, but for their protection. We read about the government and structure of the early Church in the New Testament and can see the protection from things like heresy and unruly leaders.
God's desire is for His sheep to be in one fold so that they will be fed the same spiritual diet and grow up in Him. God's Church has not reached the place in Him that she is destined to reach, but according to Scripture, she will someday. The denominational system we see in the world is unlike what Scripture describes as the early Church and will never be able to reach the state of unity that the Bible declares she will reach. While there are many saved people in various organizations, the denominational system is not the Church. The apostle Paul put it well when he spoke the following:
Ephesians 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit: even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
According to Paul's words to the Ephesian Church, a coming together of God's people will happen at some point in time. This coming together is part of that great mystery that Paul is telling the Ephesians about.
Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
- GOD'S PURPOSE FOR THE CHURCH IS TO ASSIST HIM IN THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS
In Paul's letter to the Ephesian saints, he speaks of the Church coming to that place of holiness where she is without spot or wrinkle. He says that the Church will get there through the washing of the Word and reveals that this is at least in part, God's purpose for the ministry to help bring the Church to this place. Many have dismissed these following Scriptures, thinking them impossible to fulfill.
Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
John's words in the book of Revelation portray the Church as having reached a glorious stage of righteousness and says that she "has made herself ready." Of course, she will not reach that state of readiness without the help of the Holy Ghost and God's Word, but she does have her part in bringing it about
.
Chapter 4
The Nature of the Church
God's Church will have identifying marks that will help identify who she is.
Part 1: UNITY
Unity is an identifying mark of the Church and is part of who she is - part of her nature. The denominational system of today with its many divisions, multiple governments, and varying beliefs, is not God's definition of the Church and stands in opposition to that which God has prescribed for His Church. The prayer of Jesus for His Church is a clear contrast from what is seen in the denominational systems of today.
St. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
St. John 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
St. John 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
This was Christ's prayer for unity. Will the prayer of Jesus be answered or was His prayer in vain? Of course, it is obvious that His prayer will be answered.
In the next few verses, look at the description Paul gave to the Ephesian saints concerning unity and the mystery that God wanted to reveal to them concerning the Church.
Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Ephesians 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Paul's description of God's plan for the Church that is found in Ephesians chapter 4 does not fit in with the denominational structure that exists today. That structure offers no real way for oneness, reconciliation, and the kind of unity that God outlines for the Church. The New Testament Church had one government, not many. The prophet Isaiah said, "the government shall be upon his shoulder," again we state not many governments, but one government. To bring about unity of doctrine, there was an assembly at Jerusalem, but not many assemblies in different locations representing different factions of people. There are many scriptures in the New Testament where we are called to a unity of the faith. Following are two of them.
Philippians 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Part 2: HOLINESS
Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Holiness is not only an identifying mark of the Church, but the Scriptures declare that without it no man will see the Lord. As can be seen in the next verse, it is in the Church’s nature to present every member of the Church perfect in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Listen to what the apostle Paul and the apostle Peter say about the Church and her call to holiness in the following verses.
2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
There are many in this world who are searching for the Church of the Bible or at least a church to attend, but it is amazing, yet greatly troubling that so many of them do not take holiness into consideration, since holiness is to be the nature of the Church and the thing that sets her apart from the world and others.
Part 3: COMMITMENT TO THE TRUTH
There are some organizations that refer to themselves as "full gospel churches." It should be noted that we are not a preacher of the full gospel unless we are willing to proclaim the whole Word of God. Some who claim to be full gospel do not do that. The full gospel would include the "all things whatsoever I have commanded you" that Jesus spoke of. There must be a willingness to preach about all those things that will keep a person out of heaven. There must be a willingness to preach about the things we have just mentioned, such as unity and holiness. Those things are not popular subjects. It is in the nature of the Church of God to preach all those things that He has commissioned her to, and this commitment is an identifying mark of the Church.
The Church of God in the New Testament committed herself to teach the whole counsel of God. As the apostle Paul said, "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." (Acts 20:27) Some of the things that the Church teaches have been extremely unpopular, even with the Christian community at large, but the Church stands committed to the truth and willing to defend those portions of God's Word that many have rejected. She has also walked softly, not wanting to go beyond His Word. To go beyond God's Word and preach our own doctrine would make us just as guilty as abandoning portions of His doctrine. To do either would mean that we have failed God.
Revelation 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Revelation 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Many new translations of God's Word have been constructed over the last century or two. With many of them, organizations have sought to reconstruct the scripture, inserting their opinions and beliefs that have no support from the original text. The nature of God's Church is to defend the faith. We are not granted any right to add to or take from it. Jesus is the author and finisher of THE FAITH and God has called the Church to defend it.
Chapter 5
THE CHURCH AND THE KINGDOM
In the minds of many, the Kingdom of God and the Church of God are the same. In this chapter we will point out a few distinctions between the two, although there are a number of them. A person may be in the Kingdom of God and yet not in the Church of God, and the opposite can also be true. They may be in the Church of God and not be in the Kingdom of God. Even the way a person enters each one is different. We'll discuss these things later in this chapter.
PART 1
THE DIFFERENCE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD
AND THE CHURCH OF GOD
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS INVISIBLE – THE CHURCH OF GOD IS VISIBLE
The first difference we want to mention is that the Kingdom of God is invisible but the Church of God is not. In reference to the Kingdom of God, Jesus said:
Luke 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
In Jesus' own words here, He was saying that a person cannot see the Kingdom of God, for it is invisible. Also, remember the words of Jesus to Nicodemus. When Jesus was talking to this man about being born into the Kingdom of God, He explained to him that there is no physical observance of the Kingdom when it comes into your life.
St. John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
In this passage, Jesus was not saying that you won't be able to sense the kingdom when it comes into your life. Neither was He saying that you won’t have assurance that it has come, but like the wind, you will not be able to visibly see it when it comes. When one is saved, God places His Kingdom within them and they are born into the Kingdom of God.
The Church on the other hand, can be seen. It is made up of flesh and blood individuals who are joined together by covenant. It is an organization of people who are established by Christ. It is referred to as the body of Christ in Scripture, and so it could be identified not only as an organization, but perhaps better as an organism, with each individual having a function to fulfill.
1 Corinthians 6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
THE WAY ONE ENTERS THE KINGDOM AND THE WAY ONE ENTERS THE CHURCH IS DIFFERENT
The way a person enters into the Kingdom of God is through the new birth. This is evident from the following Scripture.
St. John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
The way a person enters the Church is not by being born again. This will be expounded on and Scriptures given in part 2 of this chapter. However, we want to note here that if the new birth places a person in the Church, then there would be no way for the Church to disfellowship an erring member. It would be a spiritual matter between them and God alone, and no one could take a person out of the Church, any more than they could take them into the Church. The theory that one enters the Church when they are born again does not comport with Scripture.
LET'S LOOK AT THE OPENING UP OF THE KINGDOM AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH AND WHEN THEY TOOK PLACE
John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus, and his public ministry began prior to the Lord's. John's ministry was to point to the coming ministry of the Lord. Their ministries did overlap in time, but we take it that John's public ministry began before the Lord's from the following words of John.
St. John 1:15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
Notice John's words here, "He that cometh after me." These words tell us that John's public ministry began before the Lord's. There are other passages of Scripture that state or indicate this. We needed to establish this because it helps to show us that the Kingdom of God was already opened up and people were making their way into it before Christ established His Church.
Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
It was after Christ had begun His ministry that He established His Church, thus showing us that the Kingdom of God and the Church are not one and the same.
PART 2
HOW DOES A PERSON BECOME
A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH
There are a number of thoughts circulating in the Christian community today on how one becomes a member of the Church. Let's look at a couple of the more common theories to see if they're biblically sound.
MEMBERSHIP THEORY 1
The most common thought on how a person becomes a member of the Church is that they becomes a member by being born into the Kingdom of God. Keep in mind that we have already established that the Church and the Kingdom are not the same.
Former General Overseer A. J. Tomlinson wrote the following in his book entitled THE LAST GREAT CONFLICT: "If people are born into the Church, then Judas was mistaken about certain men CREEPING in who he said were ungodly men (Jude 4), and Paul when he declared false brethren were brought in (Galatians 2:4). If people are born into the Church, Paul was certainly mistaken again when he gave orders to the Church at Corinth to gather themselves together and put away from themselves that wicked person. (1 Corinthians 5:4-13) If they are born into the Church they will have to be unborn to get out of it, and the members of the Church themselves will have no more to do with putting them out than with taking them in. Such teaching is erroneous and inconsistent, and contrary to the teachings of scripture."
MEMBERSHIP THEORY 2
Some believe that water baptism has a part in placing people in the Church. Let's look at one Scripture that people use to support this theory.
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Some think that this scripture is referencing water baptism. People must understand that every time we see the word "baptism" in the Scripture, it is not referring to water baptism. Taking a quick glimpse at various scriptures in the Bible will tell us this.
Luke 12:50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
Matthew 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
Mark 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
1 Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
1 Corinthians 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
When we see the word "BAPTISM" in Scripture, it can certainly at times be associated with water baptism, but not always. However, there is one thing that the word baptism can always be associated with and that one thing is "SUBMISSION."
Let us briefly look at water baptism. Water baptism is an outward expression of what has already happened inwardly. John the Baptist would not baptize some with water because he could tell by observing them that the inward experience had not yet taken place in their lives. There had been no dying out to self and no submission to God that was visible in their life. (Matthew 3:7-8) Water baptism says that there has been a surrendering to God and a dying out to self that has already happened in a person at the time when Christ entered their heart. As we stated earlier, BAPTISM ALWAYS IMPLIES SUBMISSION.
When Paul said that "by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body," it had nothing to do with water baptism. He was stating that the Spirit has worked to help us to not only understand the mystery of the Church, but also to bring us to that place of acceptance and submission to Him. The phrase "by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body" does not mean that the Spirit of God forces each one that is brought into the Church into submission, but rather the Spirit leads us and brings us to an understanding of the Church and our role in the Church. His words, "and have been all made to drink into one Spirit" helps to confirm what we have just said.
It is the Spirit who reveals the Church to us, and that same Spirit helps bring us to that place of understanding our role in the Church and how to fulfill it. When a person reads the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 12, it can be seen that Paul is not talking about water baptism, but he is talking about the role of the Spirit to bring each member into compliance and acceptance of their role in the Church.
Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 12:13 clearly does not say that water baptism places one into the Body of Christ.
ONE BECOMES A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH BY COVENANT
There are many wonderful people in this world who have been born again and are Christians but are not in the Church. Because they are not in the Church does not mean that they are not saved. If they have Jesus in their heart, they are just as saved as those that are in the Church. We must remember that God's ultimate goal is to bring all His sheep together into one fold (the Church). (St. John 10:16, Ephesians 1:10)
The question at hand here is, “how does a person become a member of the Church?”. In Acts 7:38 it speaks of the Church in the wilderness. The words "Church in the wilderness" that is mentioned here is referring to the called out people in the time of Moses. The Old Testament offers us so much in understanding how God works. Much of what we see in the Old Testament are patterns for our day according to Hebrews chapters 8 through 10. How did one become a part of that Church in the wilderness that existed in the time of Moses? The answer to this question is they became part of that Church by a word covenant.
Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
Exodus 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Exodus 19:7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
Exodus 19:8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.
In the book of Isaiah are found some prophetic words regarding how one joins the Church in our day.
Isaiah 62:5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
Isaiah wrote the preceding words several hundred years before Jesus established His Church, but they surely speak of Christ's time and how one would become a member of the Lord's Church.
In the New Testament we find the words of the apostle Paul and he also, like Isaiah, uses the illustration of a man and woman joining together to become husband and wife, and compares that to joining the Church. Paul's words are in harmony with Isaiah's words. To join the Church would require taking a covenant administered by the proper authority.
Ephesians 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Ephesians 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
In the covenant that Israel took with God, there is found an acceptance of God's commandments that Moses brought down from that mountain. In their covenant with God, they said: "All that the LORD hath spoken we will do.” We do not have a record of any specific wording of the covenant that the New Testament Church used when taking someone into the Church, but it seems clear that there must have been found within it an agreement to comply with all of God's Word.
When a person joins the Church of God today, the covenant that will be administered to them is this:
"Will you sincerely promise in the presence of God and these witnesses that you will accept this Bible as the Word of God - believe and practice its teachings rightly divided the New Testament as your rule of faith and practice, government and discipline, and walk in the light to the best of your knowledge and ability?"
No one becomes a member of the Church unless they answer in the affirmative to this covenant that is given to them. This covenant is not to be taken lightly. Jeremiah refers to it as a perpetual covenant and one that shall not be forgotten.
Jeremiah 50:5 They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.
Chapter 6
A DIVINE REVELATION
Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
What is meant by the words "upon this rock" in this passage of scripture?
“This rock” refers to an understanding made possible through divine revelation. Jesus was saying that His Church would be built through divine revelation. It is no wonder the world can't see the Church. It can only be seen through a divine relationship and revelation of God. Even multitudes of Christians do not understand the Church. They do not understand it because it has not yet been revealed to them. There are many who catch a glimpse the Church in Scripture, but because what they are hearing and seeing in the Christian community is not matching up with what God is trying to show them, they ignore it.
Another reason people can't see the Church is that God's plan for her is so amazing that people do not believe that it can happen, even though the Scripture declares that it will.
There is something about faith that means so much to God. He wants us to believe in Him and trust in what He says. The Scripture tells us that we cannot please God without believing Him.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Throughout the Scripture we see God revealing His plans to people and giving them an understanding of what He wanted accomplished. Many of those individuals must have known almost immediately that God's plan was too big for them to accomplish on their own and that it would take divine assistance for the fulfillment of the vision God gave them. The Scripture tells us that much of what happened in the Old Testament was for our learning and understanding of how God will work in this grace dispensation. Let's look at some of those people in the Old Testament who God gave divine revelation to in order for them to carry out His plan for their day. This may help us to understand more about God's Church and have faith in His wonderful and extraordinary plan for her.
Moses was one of those people we find in the Old Testament to whom God revealed an extraordinary plan. God's plan was to deliver Israel out of Egypt’s bondage. When God told Moses that he (Moses) would be the instrument for rescuing Israel out of the hands of Pharaoh, he immediately recognized that it would take something beyond just his abilities to accomplish this. It was at this point that God began to reveal His power to Moses and assured him that he would not be alone in his task, but that He (God) through His great power, would help to achieve the goal.
Exodus 3:10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Exodus 3:11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
Exodus 3:12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
Read also Exodus 4:1-9:These verses are where God reveals His power to Moses, assuring him that the mission He is sending him on is possible through His great power.
Nehemiah was another Old Testament character whom God shared a vision with. It involved such a large undertaking and would require more than Nehemiah could do on his own. It also required more material capital than he or even those at Jerusalem possessed. He understood that it would take the involvement of God in this project in which God had placed upon his heart. The first thing that Nehemiah does after God places His plan in his heart is pour his heart out to the Lord and seek God's divine assistance to carry out the plan. He too, like Moses, understood that the competion of God's plan required more than he alone possessed. When Nehemiah prayed, God revealed His mighty ability to provide what was needed for the job. God moved upon King Artaxerxes to provide what was needed to help with the work that was to be done.
Nehemiah 2:17 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
Nehemiah 2:18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
In each of these instances (with Moses and Nehemiah) there was a divine revealing of both God's plan and His power. God's plan that He had for them to accomplish was so big and extraordinary that they also needed to understand the greatness of His power to help fulfill those plans.
God can give a divine revelation of His plans in various ways, and whichever way He chooses, it would not negate the fact of its divine origin nor that it is a spiritual revelation. God has His reasons for delivering His plans to each of us in the way He does. The important thing is that we grasp hold of the vision that God has given us and take seriously our part in fulfilling His plan.
A DIVINE REVELATION OF GOD'S GLORIOUS PLAN FOR HIS CHURCH:
What we call the book of Ephesians is a letter that was written to the Saints at Ephesus for the purpose of helping them to better understand the Church of God and its purpose.
In this letter to the Ephesians, Paul uses the word "mystery" and indicates that the mystery "from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God," but that it now "might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God." He tells the Ephesians that the mystery has been made known to him and that a responsibility has been laid upon him to make known this mystery to others.
Before Paul goes too deep into the revelation or mystery, as he called it, of the church, he felt it necessary to prepare them for the almost inconceivable and astonishing things he was about to share with them. He told them that he was praying for God to give them their own divine revelation of the Church. You see, unless it is God who opens our eyes to His magnificent plan for the Church, people will not be able to comprehend it and neither will they receive it. Before preceeding on into the mystery, he also told them that he was praying for God to reveal His great power to them, which would enable them to fulfill their part in carrying out the mystery. Notice, this follows the pattern that God used when He spoke with Moses and Nehemiah concerning the plan for their day. They needed to know the plan of God, but they also needed to know about the power of God to help fulfill that plan.
Here is Paul's prayer for the Ephesians:
Ephesians 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Ephesians 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Ephesians 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Paul prayed for divine wisdom and understanding for the Saints in Ephesus. Without the enlightenment that comes from God, our words fall short in helping others see God's plan for His church. It takes divine revelation from God to accomplish the extraordinary things He has planned. In Jesus' day, many saw him work miracles, they heard His powerful words, and experienced His righteous life. They saw the same Jesus as the apostles, yet when Jesus said in Matthew chapter 16, "Who do men say that I the son of man am," we see that others did not see what the apostles saw. Many saw Him as someone other than God, but the disciples saw Him as God. Peter said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus' response to Peter was that it was the Father in heaven who revealed this to him. In the same manner, many read the Bible (God's Word) and yet lack a divine understanding of it because it too is revealed through the Spirit of God.
After Paul prays for the Ephesian Church to be able to grasp the vision that God has given him concerning the Church and after he seeks to prepare them mentally, he then begins to reveal God's plan for the Church on this earth. This is what he shares with them.
Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
These verses reveal some amazing things about the Church. Paul speaks of a unity of the faith and a state of holiness that will be attained by the Church. He also identifies the future state of the Church as having a Christ-likeness. In fact, he actually speaks of her coming "unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Doesn’t this make for good reasoning in light of other passages where we are told such things as: to walk in His steps, to be holy as He is holy, to be perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect, to put on Christ, and to let His love dwell in us? Also, the Scripture speaks of those who are predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. This is God's vision for the last days Church, as incredible as it might seem to the natural-minded person. She will reach a state of unity and spiritual perfection that can only be attained through the supernatural power of God. That is why it takes a divine revelation from God for people to be able to mentally grasp it.
According to the Word, He is coming back after a Church that has made herself ready.
Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Chapter 7
THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT
GOD WILL HAVE A TRIUMPHANT CHURCH
Luke 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
This scripture not only speaks of Satan's plan that will be in full force when the Lord returns. God also has a plan for that day.
All around us we hear preachers talking about the end time. They point to the wickedness in the world as a sign of the end time and they are correct in doing so. The Bible compares the days of the Lord's coming with those of Noah's day. The wickedness of men's hearts was truly great in Noah's day.
Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Much is said about the wickedness that existed in Noah's day, but there is another side of the picture that many are not talking about because it has not been revealed to them. To Noah there came also a revelation of the ark. The Old Testament is filled with types and shadows for our time and the ark represents the Church of today. While many are just looking at the world and to the darkness that exists in the world as signs of the end times, let us also look at the Church. The Scripture not only reveals to us what the world will look like in the end time, but also what the Church will look like, in her completed stage.
While Noah was building the ark, God wasn’t waiting on the world to reach a certain level of sin. It was already sinful. God was patiently waiting on the completion of the ark. Noah was building an ark and the rain was not going to come until the ark was finished.
1 Peter 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
As Noah saw the ark nearing its completion, he must have realized that the disaster that God warned him of was soon to come. The completion of the ark probably meant nothing to the ungodly inhabitants of the world.
Friend, the Scripture is full of prophetic words about the completion of the last days ark – the Church of God, yet we hear very little about it and its completion.
The Bible references that speak of what the church is to look like at the coming of the Lord are literally ignored. Why? Because many do not understand God's plan. They, like those in Noah's day, are trying to come to an understanding of the future plan of God based on what they have seen in the past or can presently see around them. We must remember that what is going to happen has never happened before.
If God's plans for the days of Noah, Moses, and Nehemiah were so incomprehensible for many of the people, why should we think that God's greatest accomplishment of all times (the completion of the Church) will be any less glorious and momentous?
JESUS PRAYED FOR UNITY
Many do not believe in a coming together of God's sheep. Now, that would require some kind of divine intervention, yet there was divine intervention in Noah's day when God gathered the multitudes of animals into the ark. Noah's day shows us that when God's Spirit gets into something, He can even cause the lion and the lamb to lie down together. God removed the opposing attitudes and differences out of those animals.
St. John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
St. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
St. John 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
GOD DOES HAVE A PLAN AND IT WILL PRODUCE A GLORIOUS CHURCH
For many people, the gates of hell not prevailing against the Church means simply that she will merely exist or be able to endure till the coming of the Lord. To others, it may even mean that they will continue to win souls up to that time, but there are few that grasp the message of a victorious Church that rises to the standard of a Church without spot or wrinkle. That would be too far-fetched for some people, even though Scripture plainly and emphatically declares it will happen.
There are plenty of sermons that can be heard about the world getting worse, but where are the messages that speak of a Church that is getting ready for His coming?
There are medical books that speak of signs to look for in the body of a terminally ill person as their body starts to shut down. The Bible gives us signs to look for in the world as it approaches its demise. The Bible also gives us signs to look for in the Body of Christ just prior to the coming of the Lord. They are not signs of death, but they are signs of life. For while the world will be dying spiritually, the Body of Christ will be becoming more spiritually alive in Him.
There is so much talk about defeat in the world today. We should be talking and singing about victory in Jesus. He did not build His Church for it to be defeated. It will accomplish what it was designed to do. He is not coming back after a defeated church having on a sin-soiled garment. He will be returning for a victorious one without spot or wrinkle and who will be wearing a robe of righteousness. He will not be returning for a Church that resembles the world that surrounds it, but for a Church that resembles the one who is coming back after her.
TEST TO SEE WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED
( ) 1. The Church had its beginning on the day of Pentecost.
- True or B. False
( ) 2. When will the Church be raptured?
- During the time when the great tribulation is taking place.
- When the troubles reach a certain height.
- When the Church reaches that glorious state that God has destined her to reach.
( ) 3. What places a person into the Church?
- Water Baptism
- The Covenant
- The Born Again experience
( ) 4. Which Scripture speaks of the Church coming to the place where she is without spot or wrinkle.
- John 3:16
- Luke 16:16
- Ephesians 5:27
( ) 5. What are two differences between the Church and the Kingdom?
- The Church is visible and the Kingdom is invisible
- The Kingdom is visible and the Church is invisible
- You become a member of the Church when you are saved and you join the Kingdom by covenant
( ) 6. Who organized the Church?
- The apostle John
- The apostle Peter
- Jesus Christ
( ) 7. How many Churches are recorded in the book of Acts?
- One
- Two
- Seven
( ) 8. What is the "ROCK" on which the Church is established?
- Peter
- A certain place in Jerusalem
- Divine revelation and mutual understanding
( ) 9. What scripture speaks of the organization of the Church?
- John 10:1,2
- Mark 3:13,14
- Matthew 10:15,16
