The Church is NOT by Accident
Suggested reading; Early Christians Speak, Dr. Everett Ferguson, Abilene Christian University Press
Thirteen Lessons on Church History, Morris Womack, College Press Publishing Company
Introduction
In Genesis Chapter 2 we read, “And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” (English Standard Version)
Before the first sin and even before we learn the name of Adams wife (Chapter 3), we see God instituted the family. God knew we would have tremendous domestic and social needs, therefore marriage and the family (the husband and his wife) were already in place as early as Genesis Chapter 2.
Certainly of no less importance, the spiritual needs of mankind would also need to be addressed. For those of us living today, the Church helps fulfill those spiritual needs.
We must acknowledge that the church had its visible beginning on the Day of Pentecost (Acts Chapter 2). Prior to the physical establishment of the Church, it existed in the mind of God. The timing, structure, preparation and purpose were already fully established in the mind of God.
The Church is not an afterthought of God!
Ephesians 1:22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (NKJV)
The Church has been fully instituted by Gods will and purpose; it has a vital relationship with our risen Savior who is its head. The Church is the fullness of Christ, please today realize that importance as we together look at the Body of Christ, His church.
Opening Statements
We are only one generation away from apostasy!
We are but one generation from abandoning faith in God!
When we look at the Old Testament, one of the conclusions we must draw it the fact that people who followed God didn’t always remain faithful for very long. The same can be said about our country and culture.
Allow me to share some recent (April 2006) quotes from a Barna Research article titled; Americans Have Commitment Issues, New Survey Shows.
“More than seven out of ten Americans (72%) claim they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is important in their life today. But a survey examining some of the other commitments that adults make – and avoid – suggests that people are inconsistent in their spiritual perspectives.”
“Fewer than one out of every five adults firmly believes that a congregational church is a critical element in their spiritual growth and just as few strongly contend that participation in some type of community of faith is required for them to achieve their full potential.”
“Only 17% of adults said that “a person’s faith is meant to be developed mainly by involvement in a local church.”
“These figures emphasize how soft people’s commitment to God is,” Barna explained. “Americans are willing to expend some energy in religious activities such as attending church and reading the Bible, and they are willing to throw some money in the offering basket. Because of such activities, they convince themselves that they are people of genuine faith. But when it comes time to truly establishing their priorities and making a tangible commitment to knowing and loving God, and to allowing Him to change their character and lifestyle, most people stop short. We want to be ‘spiritual’ and we want to have God’s favor, but we’re not sure we want Him taking control of our lives and messing with the image and outcomes we’ve worked so hard to produce."
We need to do all we can to see that the Church in not diminished further!
The Church is not an accident; it is part of His will. Church leaders and members of the congregation must make sure that the will of God moves forward. When the body of Christ is functioning according to the will and purposes of God we show the world the perfect plan God intended for you and me. We also set the example for those who come behind us.
Timing
God only has perfect timing!
Consider the following;
Government - The Roman Government had changed from a Republic into the Roman Empire with a universal government. Her citizens were protected throughout the know world. Under the leadership of Augustus Caesar, Rome’s first emperor, peace and order were established. (Source – Womack, listed earlier)
Language - The Greek language also was universal and this was the perfect language for the New Testament. It became universal in large part because of the conquests of Alexander the Great. Precision and versatility make Greek the perfect language to convey the real meaning of the Gospel.
Travel Infrastructure – By the start of the Church in Acts, Romans roads extended through much of the known world. This allowed commerce as well as missionaries a much easier route to get from providence to providence in the Empire.
Paul speaks of the immorality and sin during the early Church era in…
Romans 1:24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind; to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, and ruthless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. (NIV)
The perfect government, language, roads and a world weighed down with sins. It appears the world was ready to hear the new and better way.
John the Baptist & Prepared Disciples
Old Testament prophecies were being fulfilled
John the Baptist came to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. He preached repentance to his people who were steeped in tradition and sin.
“Jesus’ personal ministry completed the preparation for the establishment of the Church. He carefully trained His disciples to withstand the problems they would face; He showed them the things they must teach; and, He reassured them there would be a Church, or kingdom with His many promises. He testified the Church would be built on His divine nature. (Womack)
Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (ESV)
The price paid for the Church and your Redemption was not an afterthought, Acts 20:28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. (English Standard Version)
Establishment and Pattern of the Church
The Church was established in Jerusalem on the first Pentecost after Jesus was resurrected.
The Church was referred to as;
1 Corinthians 1:2 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: (ESV)
Romans 16:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. (English Standard Version)
Acts 20:28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
1st Timothy 3:15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of truth.
They met on the first day of the week to worship;
Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. (ESV)
1 Corinthians 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. (ESV)
Membership included faith, repentance of sin, confession that Jesus is the Christ, and baptism for remission of sin.
Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (ESV)
Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." (ESV)
Romans 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (ESV)
Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (ESV)
1 Peter 3:21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?"
The story of Philip and the eunuch in Acts chapter 8 demonstrates the clear response we see by the eunuch. All we know for sure in that Philip told him the good news about Jesus. But we know with certainty the good news included baptism because of the response of the eunuch, "See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?"
And we know he had to believe before he was baptized, Acts 8:37 And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
Acts 8:38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.
Church Leadership
Elder’s and deacon’s provided the oversight, there were no governing councils, man made creeds, synods, popes or other governing bodies of men and woman that redefined the Church.
1st Timothy 3:8 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, 9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.
Titus 1:5For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,
Conclusion
The Church was always purposed in the mind of God, it clearly was not an after thought.
Jesus paid the price for the Church and he is the head of all the penitent, baptized believers that comprise the body.
Redefining the Church makes it our body, not His Body. We are the fullness of Christ’s body if we in fact are in the body. Jesus hasn’t changed His mind about the body…
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
