II. THE LORD’S CHURCH
A.
Why So Many Denominations.1. Many of the heresies in the religious world today and at any given time in history is a direct result of having the wrong definition of a church or the wrong concept of what a church is.
2. The has resulted in a lot of so-called "denominations".
3. If these organizations knew what the definition of a church is or knew what constituted a church, they would realize that they are not one of the Lord's Churches.
4. They are obviously confused on who the founder of the church must be before it is one of the Lord’s churches. See Matt. 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.
3. They are obviously confused about who the head of the church is. See
Eph. 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.B.
The Effect On Baptist Churches.1. Alien immersion.
2. Open communion.
3. Close communion.
4. Church discipline.
5. Missionary boards.
6. Social Clubs instead of churches.
7. Universal church--
8. Ecumenicalism.
(a). Ministerial Associations.
(b). Promise keepers.
(c). Community services.
(d). Fellowshiping with churches of different faiths.
C. What Is A "Church"?
1. Church: Gk. ekklesia {ek-klay-see'-ah}
(a). A gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly [Bible Dictionary].
(b). An assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating [Bible Dictionary].
2. The Catholics believe the church is a "visible" universal body.
(a). The word Catholic is Latin for "universal".
(b). They believe that there is only one "church" (singular), and that they are it.
(c). They believe that no one is saved apart from the Catholic church.
3. The Protestants (and far too many Baptist) believe the church to be a "invisible" universal body.
(a). That is to say, they believe that everyone who is saved, ever has been or ever will be, are a member of the one huge "invisible universal" church.
(b). They have confused the Lord’s church with the family of God.
4. True Baptist believe that the Lord’s church is a "local, visible, body of baptized believers."
(a). It has to be "local," not universal, and it has to be "visible," not invisible.
(b). The word "ekklesia" means assembly.
(c). Now you have to have people in order to have an assembly; real live people that you can see.
(d). And these people have to be able to assemble; every saved person in the universe cannot assemble together at one location, at one time; it would not be possible.
(e). We find the word "churches" (plural) 36 times in the N.T.
5. So a church is a local, visible congregation.
(a). Acts 16:5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
(b).
Rev. 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. (c). Rom. 16:3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.6. the Lord Jesus used the word ekklesia 23 times, 3 times in Matt. and 20 times in Rev.
(a). In every instance He used it of a local church.
(b). Whenever He spoke of a larger group than the members of the local church, He always said churches.
D. Who Is The Founder Of The Lord’s Church?
1. Matt. 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter (Petros), and upon this rock (petra) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
(a). These are the verses that the Catholics use when they maintain that the Lord built His church upon Simon Peter; therefore Peter was the founder and first Pope.
(b). These are also the same verses that the Protestants use when they maintain that the church was built upon Simon Peter’s confession.
(c). They are both Wrong! The Lord built His church, and He built it upon HIMSELF, he is the foundation!
(d). Peter: petros --- a small rock or stone.
(e). Rock: petra --- a large rock or stone; a cliff or ledge.
(f). Notice in verse 13 that the Lord
"asked his disciples;" He was talking to all of them, not just Simon Peter.(g). In verse 15 He said,
"But whom say ye that I am?"(h). "Ye" is plural; it means "you all."
(i). In the Bible the T’s are singular (thee, thou) and the Y’s are plural (ye, you); again, the Lord was talking to all of His disciples, not just Simon Peter.
2. Let’s look at the Scriptures and see who the church is built upon.
(a). 1Cor. 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
(b).
Matt. 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?(c).
Psa. 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. 23 This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.(d).
Eph. 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.(e).
Eph. 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,3. Any organization who has anyone else as their founder is not a true New Testament Church.
4. Any organization who can trace their beginnings to any other person or being, is not a true New Testament Church.
5. Jesus is the founder and head of His church...
(a). Not Martin Luther.
(b). Not John Calvin.
(c). Not the Wesley brothers.
(d). And Not Alexander Campbell.
6. Benjamin Franklin, a minister, in Living Pulpit, page 384. If popery were born too late, or is too young, to be the true ‘church’ (Assembly) , what shall we say of those communions born in the past three centuries? They are all to young, by largely more than a thousand years. No ‘church’ (assembly) that has come into existence since the death of the Apostles can be the ‘church’ (Assembly) of the living God.
E. When Did The Lord Start His Church.
1. Most have been taught today that the church began on the day of Pentecost, by Simon Peter and the other Apostles.
2. We will find out upon examination of the Scriptures that Jesus Christ started His church (just as He said He would) and that He did it during His ministry right here on earth.
3. Let’s look at the evidence that the church was already in existence before Pentecost.
(a). Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Note: You can’t "add" to something that does not exist.
(b). Matt. 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Note:You cannot tell anything to something that does not exist and you cannot remove anyone from anything that does not exist.
(c). They met as a church before Pentecost; Thomas wasn’t there the first time Jesus showed up in His incarnate body, but he was the following week.
(d). They observed the Lord’s Supper as a church in the upper room while Jesus was still alive.
(e). They had a church treasurer before Pentecost. See John 13:29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
(f). The church had a business meeting, voting on Judas’ replacement, before Pentecost.
4.
The church was instituted during the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. See 1Cor. 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.(a). The Bible says the apostles were the first set in the church.
(b).
Matt. 4:12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; 13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 17 From that time Jesus began topreach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.Note:
He is preaching, but has not yet called anyone.(c).
Note:
He now calls out His disciples.(d).
(e).
Mark 3:14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,Note:
Out of His disciples, He chose Him out 12 and ordained them as Apostles (set first in the church).(f). Matt. 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Note:
Here, He commissioned them; so they were a church by this time.(g). The only difference in this commission and the one given to them in Matt. 28:18-20 is the range of the mission field. See Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
(h).
John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.Note:
In accordance with the plan of the Father, when the children of Israel rejected their Messiah, Israel was then put on the shelf for now, and the door of salvation was open to the Gentiles (all nations).5. The Lord started His church somewhere between the time He called out His first disciple and the time He ordained and commissioned the twelve.
6. The Lord was the head and founder and the Apostles were the first members. See 1Cor. 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles,
F. Where Did He Start His Church?
1. The church Jesus built and which He called "My church" was organized in Palestine, God's country.
2. It is just as impossible for the church Jesus built to have it’s roots outside Palestine as it is for Jesus to have been born outside of Palestine.
3. The only churches on this earth which began in Palestine is the Lord’s churches.
4. All others we know of were born either in Europe or America. 5. They are too young and came from the wrong location to be any kin to the church which Jesus called "My church."
6. That means they fit neither the history nor the geography (location) as pertains to the Lord’s church.
7. Jesus' church was founded by a Jew (Himself) and its charter members were all Jews.
8. That is not true of any other church in the world except a the Lord’s church.
9. The founder and all the charter members of this church were baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan.
10. No other church in the world can qualify as the church Jesus built, except a church that can find it’s beginnings, its beliefs, its doctrines and practices, in Palestine.
G. Three Things That Disqualify All Other Churches.
1. They have the wrong founder.
2. They were started at the wrong time.
3. They were started in the wrong place.
(a). You need go no farther to disqualify all other churches.
(b). That only leaves us with the N.T. Baptist churches to investigate; and that we will do.