God has Spoken (A Study of Bible Authority) What is the Church of Christ?

2 Failure to Understand the Church Contributes to… DenominationalismDenominationalism Devaluing of the churchDevaluing of the church “Choose the church of your choice”“Choose the church of your choice”

3 Many in Churches of Christ Do Not Understand the Church Liberal view: “Whatever the individual can do, the local church can do”Liberal view: “Whatever the individual can do, the local church can do” –Loosing where the Lord has not loosed Factious view: “Whatever the local church cannot do, the individual Christian cannot do”Factious view: “Whatever the local church cannot do, the individual Christian cannot do” –Binding where Lord has not bound

What is the Church? ekklesia: “to call out of” … “the called out ones” An Assembly -Israel, Acts 7:38 -Gov’t body, Acts 19:39 -Riot, Acts 19:32, 41 An Assembly -Israel, Acts 7:38 -Gov’t body, Acts 19:39 -Riot, Acts 19:32, 41 Assembly of Saved “Called out” of darkness by God, by the gospel 1 Pet. 2:9-10; 2 Ths. 2:14 The Redeemed Matt. 16:18 Assembly of Saved “Called out” of darkness by God, by the gospel 1 Pet. 2:9-10; 2 Ths. 2:14 The Redeemed Matt. 16:18 4

5 “Church”…think…“People” Acts 2:47 Disciples Acts 6:1, 7Disciples Acts 6:1, 7 Believers Acts 5:14Believers Acts 5:14 Those of “the way” Acts 9:2Those of “the way” Acts 9:2 Saints 1 Cor. 1:2Saints 1 Cor. 1:2

6 “Church” is a Collective Noun Applied geographically, Acts 9:31; Gal. 1:2Applied geographically, Acts 9:31; Gal. 1:2 Applied of those who compose it, Rom. 16:4; Col. 4:16Applied of those who compose it, Rom. 16:4; Col. 4:16 Applied possessively, Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 15:9; Rom. 16:16Applied possessively, Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 15:9; Rom. 16:16

7 CHRIST In heaven { { { { Local Church Acts 11:22 Local Church Rev. 2:1 On earth CHURCH (Local) (elders, deacons, saints) Ac 14:23; Phil. 1:1 Churches of Christ Rom. 16:16 Baptized into CHURCH (Universal) Heb. 12:23

8 The Universal Church God’s people wherever they are found, Matt. 16:18; Eph. 5:23-27God’s people wherever they are found, Matt. 16:18; Eph. 5:23-27 –Saved added to it by the Lord, Acts 2:47 –One body of Christ into which one is baptized, 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:4 –Family of God into which one is adopted (Gal. 4:5) 1 Tim. 3:15 –Those in fellowship with God, 2 Tim. 2:19

The Universal Church Relationship with God & brethren, but not an organization, 2 Cor. 6:16-18; 1 Pet. 2:17Relationship with God & brethren, but not an organization, 2 Cor. 6:16-18; 1 Pet. 2:17 –No organizational structure & oversight on earth –No organizational work given to it –No universal treasury to fund it –Does not act as an organizational unit –Functions distributively (each Christian living for Christ), Eph. 5:24 Composed of individual Christians, not local churches, Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23, 30; Acts 2:47Composed of individual Christians, not local churches, Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23, 30; Acts 2:47

Universal Church: Churches or Christians? “The position that the local congregation is not a part of the church universal is a weird and novel contention, which has never been advanced by any Bible scholar, preacher, or commentator of any note in the two thousand year history of the church so far as I know.” -Gaston D. Cogdell, The Cogdell-Turner Discussion, 18

Universal Church: Churches or Christians? “So far as we know all brethren have always understood that the individual Christian is the unit of the ‘church universal.’ The body is Christ’s, and we are members of it. We were unaware that any thought or taught that congregations were units of the body of Christ, in the sense that individuals are. Congregations are nothing more nor less than groups of Christians. Groups are not members of the church; individuals are. We believe the scriptures are perfectly clear, and brethren in full accord on this point.” -Reuel Lemmons, Firm Foundation (77:31), August 2, 1960 cited in The Cogdell-Turner Discussion, p. 19, emp. Turner’s

12 Universal Church: Churches or Christians? “In this general sense the church is not a denominational institution composed of a sisterhood of local churches ‘of the same faith and order,’ but a spiritual body composed of all Christians…” -F. D. Srygley, New Testament Church, p. 7 Published by Gospel Advocate cited in The Cogdell-Turner Discussion, p. 19

13 The Local Church Independent, autonomous congregations of Christians, Acts 11:22, 26Independent, autonomous congregations of Christians, Acts 11:22, 26 –A relationship & a functioning organization –A unit with work & responsibilities Preach the gospelPreach the gospel Edify the saintsEdify the saints Relieve needy saintsRelieve needy saints

14 The Local Church Not regional, national or internationalNot regional, national or international Local organizational structure, Acts 14:23 (Phil. 1:1)Local organizational structure, Acts 14:23 (Phil. 1:1) Local oversight, 1 Pet. 5:1-2 (Acts 20:17, 28)Local oversight, 1 Pet. 5:1-2 (Acts 20:17, 28) Local treasury to fund its work, Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 11:8 (Phil. 4:15-16)Local treasury to fund its work, Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 11:8 (Phil. 4:15-16)

15 The Local Church Local church regulates its membership, Acts 9:26-28; 18:27; Rom. 16:1-2, 17-18; 1 Cor. 5:4-7Local church regulates its membership, Acts 9:26-28; 18:27; Rom. 16:1-2, 17-18; 1 Cor. 5:4-7 An assembly of saintsAn assembly of saints –“Come together as a church,” 1 Cor. 11:18 –“In the church” (assembly), 1 Cor. 14:28

16Contrasts Universal Church Added by Lord, Ac 2:47 Entered by baptism, 1 Cor. 12:13 None but the saved, 2 Tim. 2:19 Satan cannot prevail against it, Matt. 16:18 Local Church Join oneself, Ac 9:26-28 Accepted, received, Acts 18:27 Some sick, some “sleep” 1 Cor. 11:30 Satan can prevail against it, Acts 20:29-30

17Contrasts Universal Church Relationship with Christ, Eph. 1:22-23 No functional organization, no oversight, no treasury 1 Cor. 12:13 Distributive (individual) action, Eph. 5:24 Local Church Relationship with fellow Christians, Ac 15:22-23 Functional organization, with oversight & treasury Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 16:2; 1 Pet. 5:2 Collective (group) action, Phil. 4:15

18Denominations Subdivide the church into groups that are never identified in the ScripturesSubdivide the church into groups that are never identified in the Scriptures –Universal church is all the saved without reference to time & place (Heb. 12:22-23) –Local church is a specific group of Christians in a given location; Organization & work –Can cease to be a faithful church of Christ (Rev. 1:20; 2:1, 4-5)