Tag Archives: Church

The Organization of the Church

Articles,

Lesson 6

Christ established the church (Matthew 16:18). That church is made up of the called out, the world over (Colossians 1:13-14). It consists of the saved (Acts 2:47). It is His spiritual body (Colossians 1:18), and there is but one (Ephesians 4:4).

While the church is universal in nature, it is made up of hundreds and thousands of individual congregations, and each congregation is made up of many individual members. This means that the government of the church is local and not national or international. In other words, the Lord’s church does not have an earthly head or earthly headquarters.

The Scriptures teach that Christ is the head of the church. Let us observe the following verses: “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23). “For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:23). “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18). Now what do these verses teach? As already stated, that Christ is the head of the body, which is the church. How many heads are there? Just one, and Christ is that one, sharing that position with no other.

With the church being made up of many local congregations, since Christ is the head of the church, then that means he is the head of each local congregation or local church, as well as being the head of each member of the church. In keeping with this, Paul said, “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God” (1 Corinthians 11:3).

Next, each local congregation is to have its own organization. With Christ as the head, from among the members, elders and deacons are to be appointed to see after the spiritual and physical needs of the church. The elders are to watch for the souls of the members (Hebrews 13:17); the deacons look after the physical side of things (Acts 6). Notice too that the Scriptures always speak of a plurality of elders and deacons over each congregation instead of one elder and one deacon ruling over them. Neither do you ever have the elders and deacons of one congregation taking control of another, or of a group of congregations. Congregations are to fellowship one another but do not exercise control over each other.

The words “elder,” “pastor,” “bishop,” “shepherd,” and “presbyter” all refer to the same office. Thus, an elder is a pastor, a bishop, etc. In Titus 1:5-9, Paul listed a number of qualifications: “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you — if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.” These qualifications are also stated in 1 Timothy 3:1-7. So not everyone in the church could be an elder. Only the qualified ones could be appointed, and even then, there must always be a plurality of such men. In congregations where no members are qualified to be elders, the men of the church must take care of the business matters until they grow and develop enough for elders to be appointed.

Deacons are also to be appointed to serve with the elders. They are known as servants and work under the direction of the local elders. Paul lists their qualifications: “Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 3:8-13).

Now this is the divine organization of the church. Christ is the head, with each congregation having its own elders and deacons. Under their authority would be the preachers and teachers and members. In the Lord’s way, if one congregation drifts into error, the others may continue faithful. Or if all of the congregations depart from the truth but one, then it is possible for that one to be faithful. In the Lord’s plan of organization each congregation is autonomous or independent from the others. They are not tied together by man-made laws, but by love. They have fellowship with one another, and work together, being one in Christ. The Lord’s way cannot be improved on.

Nowhere in the Scriptures do you read of Peter or any other man being the head of the church. Nowhere do you read of a bishop ruling over a number of congregations, or a “pastor” (preacher) being head over a congregation. Nowhere do you read of a “clergy” or “laity.” The majority of the religious world has departed from God’s organization of the church and that is one reason why there is so much division in the world. Let us therefore determine to return to the Bible for the true scriptural pattern for church organization.

Questions

Please give correct answers to the following:

1. Who established the church?

2. Of what is the church made up?

3. Is the body of Christ physical or spiritual?

4. How many churches are there?

5. The church is ___________________ in nature.

6. The church is made up of hundreds of thousands of individuals

7. Is the government of the church local, national, or international?

8. Does the Lord’s church have an earthly head or earthly headquarters?

9. Who is the head of the church?

10. What are the leaders of the local church called?

11. What is the work of the elders and deacons?

12. How many elders and deacons are to be over each congregation?

13. By what other names are elders called?

14. Where are the qualifications of elders listed?

15. Where are the qualifications of deacons listed?

16. Can a congregation have elders and deacons if there are no members qualified to be appointed?

17. In this case, who would lead the church?

18. How are the congregations bound together?

19. Can God’s pattern of organization be improved on?

20. Is Peter the head of the church, according to the Scriptures?

21. Do we read of offices in the church in which one man called a bishop is over a number of congregation?

22. Do we read of a Pastor being over one church?

23. Do we read in the Bible of the clergy or laity?

24. Why is there so much division in the world?

25. Where should we go for the pattern for church organization?

Edited 5/15/06 — Smith Bibens

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This article is from “The Church of the Bible” by J.C. Choate Publications

To Contact Us: [email protected]

The Name of the Church

Articles,

Lesson 5

If the church is to be scriptural, then it must have a scriptural name. However, there are many man-made churches with many man-made names and titles. How did these come about? Some of these names were given to honor their founders, such as “Lutheran.” Some of them exalt a doctrine such as baptism or a method of doing the Lord’s work. Some of them glorify a day such as the day of Pentecost or the Sabbath day. Still others place emphasis on the form of govern­ment by underlining the work of the presbyters of the church. But all of these, and any others that might be mentioned, take all of the glory, praise, and honor that belong to Christ, and give it those names, titles, and descriptions that have originated with men.

Man-made names and titles are wrong for several reasons. First, they cause division. They make distinctions where God did not intend distinctions to be. They separate people. They oppose the very prayer of Christ as recorded in John 17 when he prayed that we might all be one. Second, they are condemned in the Scriptures. In 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 the Apostle Paul showed his brethren the error of wearing the names of men, thus dividing up into parties and sects. Third, the names of men are substituted for the Lord’s name. Yet, we read con­cerning the name of Christ, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Fourth, man-made names and titles are misleading, confusing, and create the wrong impression among unbe­lievers. They cause unbelief. Fifth, they will cause all who wear them, and all of those who are turned from Christ because of them, to be lost. For these reasons, they are wrong and sinful.

As to the church, Christ promised to build it (Matthew 16:18). It is said that he purchased it with his own blood (Acts 20:28), that he was the saviour of it (Ephesians 5:23), and the head of it (Colossians 1:18). It is only natural that it would wear his name to honour its founder, builder, saviour, and head. So when Paul wrote to the church at Rome, and sent along the greetings of the congregations in his area, he said, “The churches of Christ greet you” (Romans 16:16). Then in speaking to the church at Corinth, he said, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12:27). But since the body is the church (Ephesians 1:22,23), he was simply talking about the church of Christ. It is also called the church of God (1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 20:28), the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9), the kingdom of Christ (Ephesians 5:5), the kingdom of his dear Son (Colossians 1:13), the kingdom of our Lord (2 Peter 1:11), the church (Acts 13:1), the church of the living God (1 Timothy 3:15), the church of the Firstborn (Hebrews 12:23), etc.

So the church is not called by any one exclusive name or descrip­tive phrase. At the same time, it should be remembered that that which belonged to God belonged to Christ and vice-versa. Also, those names all refer to the church that Christ built. If it is not the church of Christ, then whose church would it be? Furthermore, with all of these names and descriptive phrases of it, it would seem that one would really be desirous of getting away from the scriptures to have to choose another name for the Lord’s church. But let us stay with the Bible and call the church what the Bible calls it. Then we will be right.

As to the names of the members of the church, the scriptures make that clear also. To begin with, the Prophet Isaiah said that God would give his people a new name (Isaiah 62:2). That name was borne by Paul many years later (Acts 9:15), but it was not to be given until the Gentiles had had an opportunity to obey God. All of this was fulfilled in Antioch of Syria when the disciples were first called Christians there (Acts 11:26). Later, we read where Paul was preaching to King Agrippa, and he responded by saying, “Then Agrippa said to Paul, You almost persuade me to become a Christian ” (Acts 26:28). Finally, we read where Peter said, “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter” (1 Peter 4:16).

It is therefore plain that the followers of Christ in New Testament times were Christians and Christians only. The Lord would have us to be the same today. If we wear names and titles tacked on to the name Christian then that means we are not true Christians. The name Christian distinguishes one from the rest of the world and that is all the Lord requires.

In both the name of the church and its members, the name of Christ is to be exalted. Why? Because it is the family name (Ephesians 3:14,15), a name that is above every name (Philippians 2:9-11), and the name in which salvation is to be found (Acts 4:12). Therefore, we are to believe in the name of Christ (1 John 5:13), con­fess that name (2 Timothy 2:19), repent and be baptized in that name (Acts 2:38), meet for worship in that name (Matthew 19:20), do all in his name (Colossians 3:17), that we might have ete-.;al life through his name (John 20:30,31).

With the foregoing in mind, surely no one could say that there is nothing in a name. There is certainly no salvation in the names and titles of men, but those who wear them will be lost because of them. On the other hand, there is salvation only in the name of Christ.

Questions

Please complete these phrases:

1. “The church must have a scriptural

2. “Man-made names and titles are …..

3. “The prayer of…………………….” plead for .

4. “Now ye are the …………………………………..

5. “God would give his people a ………………..

Please circle the correct answer:

YES NO 1. Must the church have a scriptural name to be scriptural?

YES NO 2. Are man-made names and titles wrong?

YES NO 3. Is salvation in the name of Christ?

YES NO 4. Would the Lord have all of us to wear the same name today?

YES NO 5. Can one glorify the Lord if he does not wear his name?

Please give correct answers:

1. How did some of the man-made names come about?

2. List some reasons why man-made names and titles are wrong.

3. For what did Christ pray?

4. Tell what Paul did when he found out that his brethren were dividing into parties

5. Why should the church wear the name of Christ? .

6. Quote Romans 16:16

7. What is the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12:27? .

8. Give some other names of the church.

9. If the church was not the church of Christ, whose church would it be?

10. What were the members of the church called?

11. List three references that speak of the name Christian.

12. What would the Lord have us be today?

13. Is it possible to be a certain kind of Christian?

14. Why are we to exalt the name of Christ?

15. What are we to do in the name of Christ?

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This article is from “The Church of the Bible” by J.C. Choate Publications

To Contact Us: [email protected]

The Identity of the Church

Articles, ,

Lesson 4

How would your set out to locate a long lost friend? Naturally, you would gather all of the marks of identification and then begin the search. Only after finding the individual that matched every mark of identification, would you accept him as being the one that you were seeking. Likewise, there are many churches in the world. How can one know which is the right one, the genuine one? How can one know which one is Christ’s church? You must take all of the marks of identification and compare the various churches with them. Only after you find the one that matches every mark of identification can you be sure you have found the right one. But what are the marks of identification? Where are they found? The Bible is the answer.

1. Christ established the church. “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).

2. It had its beginning in Jerusalem. This is seen in Luke 24:45-49 and Acts 2:5.

3. The date of origin was A.D. 33. This is also based on Acts2, with the church being established on the day of Pentecost.

4. The church wore the name of Christ. Speaking of the various congregations, Paul wrote, “The church of Christ greet you” (Romans 16:16). He further says, in speaking to the church at Corinth, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12:27). But what is the body? The church (Ephesians 1:22-23).

5. Its members were called Christians. “And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). “Then Agrippa said to Paul, You almost persuade me to become a Christian” (Acts 26:28). “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter” (1 Peter 4:16). And finally, remember, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12)

6. Christ is its only head. “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18).

7. There is but one. “There is one body, and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4:4). But what is the body? It is the church (Colossians 1:18). Therefore if there is one body and it is the church, there is but one church.

8. There are terms for entering the church. These include faint (Hebrews 11:6), repentance (Acts 17:30), confession of faith (Romans 10:9,10), and baptism (Mark 16:16). Once one is saved he is added to the church (Acts 2:47). Also Romans 6:3,4; Galatians 3:26,27; and 1 Corinthians 12:13 teach that one is baptized into Christ and his church. Through obeying these commands one is said to be born into the church or the kingdom (John 3:3-5)

9. The worship of the church is peculiar. Christians are to assemble on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7) to sing (Ephesians 5:19), to pray (Acts 2:42), to study (2 Timothy 2:15), to partake of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7) and to give (1 Corinthians 16:2).

10. The doctrine of the church is based on the Bible only. It is accepted without addition, subtraction, or substitution (Revelation 22:18,19). The Bible is the one and only creed of the church.

11. The Organization of the Church must be according to God’s plan. Christ is the head (Ephesians 5:23) and each congregation is to have its own elders and deacons (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1). The lord’s church does not have any earthly head or headquarters and neither does it have national or international man-made organization.

12. The mission of the church is three-fold. Its work is to preach the gospel (Mark 16:15,16), to help those in need (Galatians 6; James 2), and to edify the members (Hebrews 3:12-14).

13. Each Christian must live the faithful Christian life. We can not love the world (1 John 2:15; James 4:4), but must produce the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23). Only the faithful will receive the crown of life (Revelation 2:10).

These are some of the marks of the church. These are taken from the pattern, the Bible. Compare your church with these. For example, take the first four. Ask yourself, “Who established my church?” Was it established by Christ or some man? Then ask, “Where was my church established?” If it was after A.D. 33 it couldn’t be the Lord’s. And finally, ask yourself, “What name does my church wear?” If it is not the name of Christ, then how can it belong to Christ? You could continue, but these are enough to help you see whether your church is of the Lord or of man. You can also compare other churches to these identification marks to determine if they are of God or not. I believe you will be able to see the difference if you’ll be honest with yourself.

Should you find that the church you are a member of is not the one true church of the Bible, then let me urge you to leave it behind, learn the truth, obey it, and be added to the church that you can read about in God’s word. Then you’ll be in the one in which salvation is to be found.

Questions

Please give correct answers:

1. How would you locate a long lost friend?

2. Are there many denominational churches in the world today?

3. How may one know which one is right?

4. Where are the marks of identification found?

5. Who established the church?

6. Where did it have its beginning?

7. When was it established?

8. Give the name of it.

9. What is the body?

10. What were the members called?

11. Who is the head of the church?

12. How many churches are there?

13. Give the terms of admission to the church

14. How does one enter Christ and the church?

15. List the acts of worship

16. What is the doctrine of the church?

17. Tell what each congregation is to have?

18. State the three-fold mission of the church.

19. What kind of life must the Christian live?

20. Who will receive the crown of life?

21. Can a church be the Lord’s church if man started it?

22. Can a church be of the Lord if it did not have its beginning in Jerusalem?

23. Can a church be of the Lord if it had its beginning after A.D. 33?

24. Can a church be of the Lord if its members do not wear the name of Christ?

25. If you are saved, Christ will add you to the church?

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This article is from “The Church of the Bible” by J.C. Choate Publications

To Contact Us: [email protected]