The Church

August 21, 2010

St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York
Greek Words

ekklesia (NT): assembly of citizens of a city.

 
quahal (OT equivilant) : the act os assembling
 
NT it has two senses:
 
1) Universal sense: "on this rock I will build my church"  (Matt
16)
 
2) Paul's image : body of Christ & believers at a geographical
location -> "To the church of God which is at Corinth" (1 Cor)
What is a Church?

What is the physical church?

 
What are different levels of churches?
 
Does the church extend back into the Old Testament (OT)?
 
Definition of the Church

Definition: The church is the community of all true

believers for all time.
 
"Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Eph. 5:25)
 
God's plan is so great for the church he puts Christ as the head:
 
“He has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over
all things for the church which is his body, the fulness of him who
fills all in all” (Eph. 1:22–23)
The Church in the OT and NT

growth of the church comes not by human effort alone

 
“the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being
saved” (Acts 2:47).
 
Also from the Old Testament, God thinks of people as church:
“Gather the people to me that I may let them hear my words, so that
they may learn to fear me all the days that they live upon the earth...”
(Deut. 4:10)
 
gather is cognate with church in Greek
 
OT Church with the NT church as one

 37"This is that Moses who told the Israelites, 'God will send
you a prophet like me from your own people.' 38He 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. (Acts 7)
 
Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the
prophets are with us:
 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of
witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin
that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the
race marked out for us. (Heb 12)
Our Fellowship with those of the OT

 22But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly

Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to
thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23to
the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in
heaven. (Heb 12)
The Church is Invisible

The Lord knows those who are his (2 Tim 2, Num 16:5)
 
to the church ... whose names are written in heaven (Heb 12)
 
Catholics would disagree with this point.
 
There will unbelievers in the church:
 29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among
you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own
number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw
away disciples after them. (Acts 20)
Levels of Churches (Small->Big)

House church
 3Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.
4
They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches
of the Gentiles are grateful to them. 5Greet also the church
that meets at their house. (Rom 16)
 
City Church
Church at ______ (1 Cor, 2 Cor and 1 Thess)
 
Regional Church
 31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria
enjoyed a time of peace.
Levels of Churches Cont.

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And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles,
second prophets ... (1 Cor 12)
 
 
What Metaphors Apply to the
Church?
 
Metaphors for the Church - So Many...

One Family
 1Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he
were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2older
women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with
absolute purity. (1 Tim 5)
 
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For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his
whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. (Eph 3)
 
50
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my
brother and sister and mother." (Matt 12)
Metaphors Cont.

29
After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and
cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are
members of his body. 31"For this reason a man will leave his
father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will
become one flesh." 32This is a profound mystery—but I am
talking about Christ and the church. (Eph 5)
 
2
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to
one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure
virgin to him. (2 Cor 11)
More Metaphors!
 5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me
and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can
do nothing. (John 15) -> Rom 11
 
 9For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's
building.  (1 Cor 3)
 
5
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual
house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2)
 
6
But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are
his house (Heb 3)
Christ is the Head Metaphor

we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is,
Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together
by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in
love, as each part does its work. (Eph 4)
 
 
Dispensational System

Two distinct plans for Israel and the church:

  - Israel has earthly blessings now and in the future.
  - the church has heavenly blessings.
 
but does Paul think this way? Paul says that Abraham was
righteous before he was circumcized so therefore...
 
he is the father of all who believe but have not been
circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to
them. And he is also the father of the circumcised who not
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only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the
faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
(Rom 4)
We are Part of the Same Promise

  It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are
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descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his
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descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary,

"It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." In
[ 9)b] 8

other words, it is not the natural children who are God's

children, but it is the children of the promise who are
regarded as Abraham's offspring. (Rom 9)
 
As he says in Hosea:
   "I will call them 'my people' who are not my people;
      and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one,"
(Rom 9, from Hos 2)  
Jews and Christians will be Part of one
Body
24
After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by
nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated
olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural
branches, be grafted into their own olive tree! (Rom 11)
 
29
If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and
heirs according to the promise. (Gal 3)
New Covenant

   "The time is coming, declares the Lord,

      when I will make a new covenant
   with the house of Israel
      and with the house of Judah. (Heb 8 quoting Jeremiah 31)
 

To the pilgrims of the Dispersion (1 Peter 1)

 
 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To
the twelve tribes (James 1)
 
 
The Church and the Kingdom of God

George Ladd
the Kingdom not identified with its subjects. They live under
it. The Kingdom is the rule of God; the church a society of
men.
 
1. The church is not the kingdom (Jesus preached it was
near)
2.  The kingdom creates the church.
3. The church witnesses to the kingdom
1.   And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in
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the whole world as a testimony to all nations (Matt 14)

4.  Church is the instrument of the kingdom (Matt 10)
5.  Church is the custodian of the kingdom (keys given to
Peter Matt 16)
Quotes about the Kingdom

  As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is

7

near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have
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leprosy,drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely

give (Matt 10)
 
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But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the
kingdom of God has come upon you. (Matt 12)
 
17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and
drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy
Spirit,  (Rom 14)
What signs are there for a false or true church?
What is a True Church?

False Churches
20
No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not
to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.
21
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons
too (1 Cor 10)
 
  Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be
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ignorant. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or

2

other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.

3
Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit
of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is
Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.  (1 Cor 12)
Strong Words from Revelations

9
I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I
know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not,
but are a synagogue of Satan. (Rev 2)
 
  I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who
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claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars (Rev 3)
Luther and Calvin

the congregation of saints in which the gospel is rightly taught

and the Sacraments rightly administered (Augsburg
Confession, 1530, Art. 7, Lutherian)
 
Wherever we see the Word of God purely preached and heard, and the
sacraments administered according to Christ’s institution, there, it is
not to be doubted, a church of God exists - John Calvin
 
Roman Catholic view:
the visible church from Peter is the true church.
Marks of a True Church

Baptism - means for admitting people into the church.

 
The Lord's Supper - means for continuing in the membership.
 
sacraments should not be seen as a work that can earn merit
with God.
What Should a Church be
Doing?
 
The Purposes of the Church

Worship
 
sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness
in your hearts to God (Col. 3:16)
 
to live for the praise of his glory (Eph. 1:12)

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual

songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,
(Eph 5)
 
More Purposes - Nurture

  We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with

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all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in

Christ. (Col 1)
 
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It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be
prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and
teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so
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that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach

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unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and
become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the
fullness of Christ. (Eph 4)
More Purposes - Evangelism and Mercy
19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations (Matt 28)
 
To the brothers:
29
The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to
provide help for the brothers living in Judea. (Acts 11)
 
To All:
35
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them
without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will
be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is
kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your
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Father is merciful. (Luke 6)

Purity and Unity in the Church

 
Christ's Goal for the Church

Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make
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her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through

[5)b]

the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church,

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without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and

blameless. (Eph 5)
 
9
He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been
taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine
and refute those who oppose it. ...deceivers ... must be
silenced (Tit 1)
Liberal Protestantism

Its approaches are primarily man-centered rather than God-

centered
 
Tend to focus on being a caring and sensitive person and on
affirming others and acting in love.
 
Emphasis on self-help advice and by secular psychologists.
 
Unity
there shall be one flock and one shepherd. (John 10)
 
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that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me
and I am in you. (John 17)
 
  I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause
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divisions and put obstacles ... Keep away from them. For18

such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own
appetites. (Rom 16)
 
dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the
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like. ... those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of
God.  (Gal 5)
No Fellowship with Unbelievers

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Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do
righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what
fellowship can light have with darkness? ... "Therefore come
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out from them and be separate, says the Lord.  (2 Cor 6)

 
4
treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than
lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its
5

power. Have nothing to do with them.  (2 Tim 3)

 
 
Divided Fellowship Cont.

  I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually

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immoral people— not at all meaning the people of this world

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who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In

that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am
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writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls
himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an
idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a
man do not even eat. (1 Cor 5)
 
How has the church naturally divided in the NT? (e.g.)
1. Peter and Paul
2. Paul and Barnabas