09: Doctrine - The Church

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What is the Church?

church, the. Those who are true believers in Christ. The term is used in the New Testament both in a universal sense (all such believers) and in a local sense (a particular group of believers gathered in one place).

The universal church
The local church
“The church is a family. The church isn’t an organization, a business, or an entrepreneurial enterprise. When a person comes to faith in Jesus, he or she becomes part of God’s family — the church.” - Disciples Path “The Journey” vol. 2, pg. 164.
The church is people. If we are believers in Christ then we are part of the church. The church is not a building, or a service. We do not “go to church.” So, when the Bible talks about things that the church should be doing. It is important to remember it is referring to us!
1 Corinthians 1:2 ESV
2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

What is the church like?

Christ loves the church

Ephesians 5:25–27 ESV
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
Eph

The church is the body of Christ -

Colossians 1:18 ESV
18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
The church needs the unique gifts of different individuals to work together -
1 Corinthians 12:27 ESV
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

The church is the Bride of Christ

; ; ;

Matt. 9:15; 25:1–12; Mk. 2:19; Lk. 5:34–35)

Revelation 19:7 ESV
7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;
Rev

The Church is the temple of the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV
16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
1 Peter 2:5 ESV
5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Pe 2

The Church is the household of God

G
Galatians 6:10 ESV
10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

What does the church do?

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Hebrews 10:19–25 ESV
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
What does it mean to “stir up one another to love and good works”?
Ephesians 4:11–12 ESV
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
Ephesians
2 Timothy 2:2 ESV
2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

From the standpoint of how the church relates to its members, its purpose might be stated as follows: the church exists to glorify God (Eph. 1:5–6, 12–14; 3:20–21; 2 Thess. 1:12) by actively building its members up in the faith (Eph. 4:12–16), faithfully teaching the Word (2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16–17), regularly observing the ordinances (Luke 22:19; Acts 2:38–42), proactively fostering fellowship among believers (Acts 2:42–47; 1 John 1:3), and boldly communicating the truth of the gospel to the lost (Matt. 28:19–20). This purpose can be summarized under the following three headings.

Exalting God
Edifying Believers
Ministering the Ordinances
Baptism
Lord’s Supper
Evangelizing the Lost
Hebrews
Hebrews 10:19–25 ESV
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
What does it mean to “stir up one another to love and good works”?

The Church - Global and Local

Global

Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth The Universal Church and Local Churches

The universal church includes all genuine Christians throughout the entirety of the church age. They are members of “the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven” (Heb. 12:23), having been declared righteous because their sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:5). All true believers throughout church history—both those alive today and those already in heaven—make up the universal church.

Local

Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth The Universal Church and Local Churches

The New Testament instructs those who are part of the universal church in every generation, scattered throughout the world, to meet together regularly in local assemblies. Such was clearly the pattern of the early church (cf. Acts 14:23, 27; 20:17, 28; 1 Cor. 11:18–20; Gal. 1:2; 1 Thess. 1:1).

Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth The Universal Church and Local Churches

The local church is designed to equip believers by feeding them through the teaching of God’s Word (Acts 2:42; 1 Tim. 4:13), leading them in corporate praise and worship (Eph. 5:18–20; Heb. 13:15), protecting them under the shepherding oversight of godly leaders (Acts 20:28; Heb. 13:7, 17; 1 Pet. 5:1–4), and providing them with opportunities to serve one another (1 Pet. 4:10–11).

The Church - Gathered and Scattered

Gathered for Community

Acts 2:42–47 ESV
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 2
The church devoted themselves to the apostles teaching
The church devoted themselves to fellowship
The church devoted themselves to the breaking of bread (The Lord’s Supper)
The church devoted themselves to prayer
Hebrews 10:19–25 ESV
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
What does it mean to “stir up one another to love and good works”?

Scattered for a Cause

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
1 Peter 2.9
1 Peter 2:9 ESV
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Thessalonians 1:6–8 ESV
6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.
1 Timothy 2:3–4 ESV
3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Revelation 7:9 ESV
9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
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