Searching for the Church That Jesus Built
Guest Speaker: David Sain
I want you to find a man. Oh, not just any
man, but a particular man. In fact, there is only one man that can be the right
man.
Now, to aid you in finding exactly the
right man, I will tell you his name, his height and weight, where and when he was born, where he now lives, where he works, and a description of his family.
Do you think you can
find this man?
Well, I think your reply would be, "Yes,
with a complete description like that I
think I can find him."
. . .
Now, suppose that
you are looking for a church (not a man).
Oh, not just any
church, but a particular church. In fact, there is only one church that can be
the one that you want to find.
How would you go
about finding exactly the right church?
Just as you could find a particular man
with a complete description of that man, you can also find a particular church
with a complete description of that church.
If you know the name of a particular
church, how that church worships, how that church is organized, and what that
church teaches, etc., you can find the church that matches that description.
. . .
In these United States of America, there
are hundreds of different churches - each
one claiming to follow Jesus. But, they are not all alike. They teach conflicting doctrines about salvation.
They do not all worship alike. They
wear different names. And, there is a great variation in the way they are organized and governed.
The religious
condition of our world is mass confusion and division, which cannot be pleasing to
our Lord!
Jesus prayed that all
believers would be united (John 17:20-21). The apostle Paul wrote that God is not
the author of confusion but of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33). He also taught that
there is one body (Ephesians 4:4), which is the church (Colossians 1:18). In
other words, the Bible teaches that
there is only one body - only one church!
Consider these
Biblical revelations: (a) Jesus said, "...on this rock I will build My church..." (Matthew 16:18). (b) Jesus is the Savior of the
body -the church (Ephesians 5:23).
(c) God adds the saved to the church (Acts 2:47).
These scriptures
prove that Jesus built only one church. He is the head of that one church.
He is the Savior of that one church! Therefore, it is essential to salvation that one be a
member of the one church that Jesus built,
for that is the one which He will save. But, in the midst of all
the religious division and confusion, is it possible for a person to know which one is the church that Jesus built?
Yes, it is possible! A person can know which church Jesus
built!
Just as you can find
a particular man by identifying the one who matches the description you are given, you can
find the Lord's church by identifying the church that matches the description
that is given in the New Testament. The New Testament tells us how the Lord's church
is to worship. It tells us how the
church is to be organized and governed. It reveals the names by which
the church is identified. It also tells us how people in New Testament days
were saved and how they were added to the Lord's church.
. . .
Let us study what the New Testament
teaches about how the Lord's church is to worship.
1. On the night
before His crucifixion, Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26-28).
This involves eating unleavened bread and fruit of the vine (Matthew 26:17-29),
with the bread representing the body of Christ, and the fruit of the vine
representing the blood of Christ. The
Lord's church did this in remembrance of Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:23-29), on the
first day of the week (Acts 20:7).
2. Another part of
the worship of the Lord's church, as recorded in the New Testament, is
giving of their material possessions. They were taught to do this on the
first day of the week, each one giving according to his prosperity (1
Corinthians 16:1-2). They were also taught to do it cheerfully and
liberally, according to what one purposed in his heart (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
3. The Lord's church is commanded to sing
and make melody in their hearts to the Lord
(Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). We have various references that
illustrate their obedience to this command (e.g., 1 Corinthians 14:15).
4. The Lord's church
was also a praying people (Acts 2:42; 4:23-31; 12:12; etc). The men are taught to pray
everywhere (1 Timothy 2:8), followed by an
injunction forbidding the woman to have authority over a man (1 Timothy 2:11-12). Therefore, in the assembly of
the church, the men are the leaders
of worship and the women are in subjection to the men.
Therefore, in
searching for the church that Jesus built, we must look for that church which worships exactly like
the Lord's church is taught to worship, in
the New Testament, namely:
1.
Eating the Lord's Supper on the first day of every week. Note; There is no New
Testament command or example that authorizes the church to observe
the Lord's Supper on any other day of the week.
2. A free-will offering
on the first day of the week. Note: There is no New Testament
command or example that authorizes any other method, such as bake-sales or
rummage sales.
3.
Singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Note: There is no New Testament command or
example that authorizes mechanical music for Christian worship! Vocal music is the only kind of music
divinely authorized for Christian worship!
4. Praying, with the men leading in the
assemblies of the church. Note: There is
no New Testament authority for a woman to lead in prayer, preach, or lead in any other capacity when the
church is assembled.
Next, let
us consider what the New Testament teaches about how the Lord's church is
to be organized and governed.
Jesus Christ is the
head over the church (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23).
In New Testament
days, elders were appointed in every city (Titus 1:5). They are declared to be the overseers
(Acts 20:28) and the church is taught to obey them that have the rule (Hebrews
13:17).It should be noted that the authority of the elders does not extend
beyond the local congregation. The church that Jesus built has no earthly
headquarters, and there is no body of men that rules or governs over all of the various congregations, or over any group
of churches in a given geographical area. Each congregation of the Lord's
church is autonomous.
Also, deacons are a
part of the Lord's church. The word deacon means a servant, and that is
the role of a deacon in the local congregation. The deacon has no
authority other than that which is delegated to him by the elders.
The preacher in the
Lord's church is simply an evangelist - a minister (1 Corinthians 3:5). He is
not THE pastor and does not have authority.
In searching for the
church that Jesus built, we must look for that church which is organized
and governed exactly like the church was in the first century.
Now, let us consider what the New
Testament teaches about the terms by which the Lord's church is identified.
The Lord's church is identified by various
terms. In 1 Corinthians 1:2, Paul addressed His letter to "the church of
God." In 1 Timothy 3:15, he wrote
about the "house of God, which is the church of the living God." Another
term by which the Lord's church is identified is "churches of Christ"
(Romans 16:16) - a reference to various congregations of the Lord's people. Other references to the
Lord's people are "the church" (Acts 13:1); "the body" (Colossians 1:18); or the
"kingdom" (Colossians 1:13-14).In reference to their
relationship to the world the saved people who make up the church are
identified as saints (Romans 1:7). In reference to their relationship to each
other, they are called brethren (Galatians 6:1). Their relationship to God
makes them children of God (1 John 3:2). Their relationship to Jesus makes them disciples (Acts 11:26) and Christians (Acts 11:26).In searching for the church
that Jesus built, we need to look for that church
which is identified by Bible terms.
Let it be noted that a church could be identified with a Bible name but
still not be the Lord's church. (That church may be unscriptural in
worship, organization, or doctrine.) However, it should also be emphasized that
no one should want to be in a religious group that is identified by a name that cannot even be found in the Bible.
Finally, let us examine what the New
Testament teaches about what people did to be saved and how they were added to
the Lord's church.
The New Testament,
especially the book of Acts, teaches us, by examples, direct statements and commands, how people
are saved. In Acts, chapter two, Luke records the conversion of about 3000 on
the day that the Lord's church was
begun. In chapter eight, He gives the account
of the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch. In chapter nine (also chapters 22
and 26) the conversion of Saul of Tarsus is told. The salvation of Cornelius
and his household is recorded in chapter ten. In chapter 16, we read the story of how a jailor was saved.
An objective study of
these examples clearly reveals how people are saved from their sins.
1. One must believe
in Jesus Christ. Paul and Silas told the Philippian jailor, "Believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." (Acts 16:31). Also, Jesus declared that "He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark
16:15-16).
2. One must repent
from sins. On the day of Pentecost, Peter told those who asked, "Men
and brethren, what shall we do?" to "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and
ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38; emphasis
added). Also, Acts 17:30-31
tells us that God commands all men everywhere to repent.
3. One must confess faith in Jesus. The
apostle Paul wrote, "...if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord
Jesus and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead,
thou shalt be saved" (Romans 10:9).
4. One must be baptized for the remission
of sins. As noted a moment ago, on the day
of Pentecost, Peter told those who inquired, "...what shall we
do?" to "Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts
2:38; emphasis added).
What Constitutes Scriptural Baptism?
Since there is
controversy in the religious world over the purpose and "method" of
baptism, it is important to note what the Bible teaches about the matter. In other words, what is essential for one's baptism to be acceptable to God?
1. In order to be baptized scripturally,
one must be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ - that is, by his authority (Acts 2:38).
2. Scriptural
baptism is immersion in water (Acts 8:35-39; Romans 6:4). Note: to say that
one is baptized is to say that one is buried or immersed. Sprinkling or pouring water upon someone
does not constitute scriptural baptism.
3. Scriptural baptism
is into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew
28:19).
4. In order to be baptized scripturally,
one must be baptized for the remission of
sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21).
Many people believe
that one should be baptized to obey God, but do not believe it is
essential to salvation. Some practice baptism as a requirement for entrance
into some particular church, but do not believe that it is essential
for salvation. However, the Bible
clearly teaches that
baptism is essential for salvation!
In Matthew 26:28, Jesus said He shed His
blood "for the remission of sins," and He used the same words that
Peter used when he commanded people to be baptized "for the remission of
sins" (Acts 2:38). Therefore, whatever the purpose Jesus had in shedding
His blood is the purpose one should have in being baptized.
Now, we all understand that Jesus died so that
men can have the forgiveness of sins! Therefore,
the reason that one should have in being baptized is so that he can have the
forgiveness of sins! To state it another way - until one is baptized in the
name of Jesus Christ in order to obtain the remission of sins, he has
not been baptized scripturally (Acts 2:38).
…
I close this message with a plea!
Friend, make the Bible your pattern and
guide. Search for that church which:
• worships like the
New Testament teaches,
• is governed like
the New Testament teaches,
• is identified by the terms found in the
New Testament, and
• teaches the same doctrine of salvation
that you find in the New Testament!
Recommendation!
I recommend that you
investigate the church of Christ. Simply stated, we contend that if we:
• teach
what people in New Testament days were taught,
•
believe what people in New Testament days were taught to believe, and
• do
what people in New Testament days were taught to do, we will be saved and added
to the Lord's church just like they were!
Conclusion
Have I taught anything in this message without giving book, chapter,
and verse from the Word of God as authority for it?
If I have taught what the Bible teaches,
then I have preached the truth (John 17:17)!
Think about it!
I plead with you to
obey the truth!