Our Web Site: cbcbedford.com
NOTE: If you want to email me – the [CONTACT] tab on SERMONCENTRAL will not go through. AOL has a filter that will not allow it to come into my email folder. You will have to email me directly at LarryJ713@aol.com.
-------------------------
WHAT CONSTITUTES A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH?
Matt. 16:15-19
Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 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.
Mat 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
At the time of this passage of Scripture, The Lord Jesus is way up north and is about to turn and head for Jerusalem and the death of the cross. He would ask probably the most important question that He will ever ask. My eternal destiny and your eternal destiny hangs on the proper answer to this question:
WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?
It really does not matter if the world can properly answer this question.
It really does not matter if the people down in the bar can properly answer this question.
It really does not matter if the politicians can properly answer this question.
It really does not matter if any particular religious system can properly answer but
IT REALLY, REALLY MATTER HOW THE CHURCH ANSWERS THIS QUESTION.
Simon Peter under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit gave the one and only proper answer to that question: Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
It is upon this foundational truth that the Lord Jesus build His church.
WHAT IS A CHURCH?
A New Testament Church is a Blood Bought, called out body of Saved, Born Again, Baptized believers who have made a covenant together to carry out the great Commission.
I would guess that the next logical question would be WHAT IS THE GREAT COMMISSION?
As in most Biblical truth, you must look at several sections of Scripture to see the complete truth.
Matt 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 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: 20 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. Amen.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Luke 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
2Titus 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
WE ARE TO MAKE DISCIPLES:
The making of a disciple is seeing a lost sinner saved, born again into the family of God and made a child of God by repentance from sin and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ and convincing them to be a student of the teaching of the Word ofGod.
WE ARE TO BAPTIZE THEM:
Scriptural baptism is:
1. Have a proper candidate (One who has become a disciple; see the definition of a disciple above.)
2. Having the proper mode: (Immersion in water in the title of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.)
3. Proper Authority (The proper authority is the one to whom the Lord Jesus authorized to administer baptism – That would be the church)
4. Proper Administrator (The church)
WHAT IS INVOLVED IN TEACH THE (ALL THINGS)
Jude said that we should contend for the Faith which was one and for all delivered to the Saints. Jude 3
Act 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. 18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
Act 20:23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. 26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 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.
Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35 I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. 36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. 37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him, 38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.
I do so love this passage of Scripture. It reveals the heart beat of the Apostle Paul and the love the 1st century church had for him. The verse that I want to pull out is Verse 27, 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
I do believe this verse is a mandate to those who a called to share the awesome and wonderful message of the Word of God. We are to share it ALL. Not just part of it or the part that we like best but ALL. ALL THINGS THAT JESUS COMMANDED – THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD.
-----------------------------------
CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH
PASTOR: Larry Jacobs
email: LarryJ713@aol.com
