The Significance of the Local Body In An Ecumenical Age

Matthew 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. Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. Ephesians 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. 1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Ecclesia – A called out assembly Ek – out of Kaleo or Klessis – an assembly There are only two systems The Local Church The World From which are we supposed to come? The World The Catholic church Protestant churches Worldly, liberal churches The Hollywood crowd The Charismatic crowd The word “church” denotes a local body not an invisible, universal mystical body.

There are three assemblies in the Bible SynagogueChurchNew Testament Church An assembly with different purpose Example: Shopping Mall An assembly with same purpose Example: Doctor or Lawyer Convention A Protestant church An assembly with a scriptural purpose Example: An Independent Baptist Church

There are several basic qualifications of a New Testament Church A Baptist church Matt hew 3:1 Matt hew 11:11 A Soul Winning church Revelation 1:13 ‑ 16 Revelation 2:1 ‑ 5 A King James Bible church Psalm 11:3 ‑ If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? 1 Timothy 3:15 John 1:1 Isaiah 8:20 Hebrews 4:12 An Autonomous Church Revelation 2:6 & 15

Simple Definition: The New Testament church is a local, visible assembly consisting of saved, baptized believers as its members.

A called out assembly of born-again, baptized, believers meeting voluntarily in a specific location for the purpose of fellowship and support, observing and defending the ordinances, carrying out the Great Commission and doing all things whatsoever the Lord commanded. The Main Focal Point of Every Church is Obedience: John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Other definitions of a church A group of disciples. – J.M. Carroll 1931 A church of Christ is an assembly of baptized believers joined together in the doctrine and fellowship of the gospel. – David Ray Burcham Ray 1912 A church is a congregation of Christ’s baptized disciples united in the belief of what he has said and covenanting to do what he has commanded. – J.M. Pendleton 1878

A Bible Study A Cell Group A Radio Program A Television Program A Christian Music Concert Family Devotions

A UNIVERSAL, INVISIBLE church "the mystical body of Christ into which all believers are born at the time of their salvation.“ The first to push the false doctrine of the invisible church was Cyprian A.D. 251 The invisible church or church invisible is a theological concept of an "invisible" body of the elect who are known only to God, in contrast to the “visible church” The company of all Christians regarded as a mystic spiritual body. There is a difference between the Family of God and the Church of God  Getting Saved makes you a member of the Family of God  Getting Baptized by immersion after you are saved makes you a member of that particular local body.

The New Testament church has one simple mission – make disciples. The mission of the church is to, as Christ’s Ambassadors, call people out of the world and into the church. Proper maintenance of New Testament principles provide us with our marching orders. Gradually, once departing from the firm principles of the New Testament church, the mission will change from the gospel work of preaching, baptizing, teaching and observing ordinances to social causes – causes taken up by religious globalists like Rick Warren and Jimmy Carter.

When New Testament principles are upheld in faith and practiced, correctness in mission is a natural by-product because what we believe determines what we do.