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Chapter 44: The Church:  Its Nature, Its Marks, and Its Purposes

Chapter 44: The Church:  Its Nature, Its Marks, and Its Purposes. What is necessary to make a church? How can we recognize a true church? The purposes of the church. A. The Nature of the Church.

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Chapter 44: The Church:  Its Nature, Its Marks, and Its Purposes

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  1. Chapter 44: The Church: Its Nature, Its Marks, and Its Purposes What is necessary to make a church? How can we recognize a true church? The purposes of the church.

  2. A. The Nature of the Church • 1. Definition: The church is the community of all true believers for all time. (Eph 1:22-23; 5:25) • Both OT and NT refer to the church as an “assembly” or “congregation” (Heb: qāhal; Gk: ekklēsia;Deut 4:10; Ps 22:22; Acts 7:38; Eph 5:25) • Therefore, present-day Christians are a part of a church that stretches back to Abel, Enoch, Abraham, Samson, David, and the prophets. (Heb 11:4-12:1)

  3. A. The Nature of the Church • 2. The Church Is Invisible, Yet Visible. • The invisible church is as God sees it. (2 Tim 2:19; Heb 12:23) • The visible church is the church as Christians on earth see it. (1 Cor 1:2; Phlm 1-2; Acts 20:29-30) • 3. The Church Is Local and Universal. • A house church is called a church. (Rom 16:5) • The church in an entire city is called a church. (1 Cor 1:2) • The church in a region is called a church. (Acts 9:31) • The worldwide church is called a church. (1 Cor 12:28)

  4. A. The Nature of the Church • 4. Metaphors for the Church. • A family (1 Tim 5:1-2) • The bride of Christ (Eph 5:32) • Branches on a vine (Jn 15:5) • An olive tree (Rom 11:17-24) • A field of crops (1 Cor 3:6-9) • A building (1 Cor 3:9) • A harvest (Matt 13:1-30) • A new temple (1 Pet 2:5) • A royal priesthood (1 Pet 2:5)

  5. A. The Nature of the Church • 4. Metaphors for the Church. • God’s house (Heb 3:3-6) • The pillar and bulwark of truth (1 Tim 3:15) • The body of Christ (1 Cor 12:12-27) • The rest of the body, distinguished from the head (Eph 1:22-23; 4:15-16; Col 2:19)

  6. A. The Nature of the Church • 5. The Church and Israel. • The dispensational view: The church and Israel are two different groups of people until after the millennium; God has distinct promises and purposes for both. • The progressive dispensational view: God does not have distinct purposes for both, but the OT prophecies to Israel will be fulfilled in the millennium by ethnic Jewish people. • The non-dispensational view: The church is the “new Israel” or the “new people of God.” (Rom 2:28-29; 4:11-12; 9:6-8; Gal 3:29; Phil 3:3; Eph 2:11-22; Heb 8; 1 Pet 1:1; 2:4-10)

  7. A. The Nature of the Church • 6. The Church and the Kingdom of God. • (1) The church is not the kingdom. (Acts 8:12; 28:23) • (2) The kingdom creates the church. • (3) The church witnesses to the kingdom. (Matt 24:14) • (4) The church is the instrument of the kingdom. (Matt 10:8; Lk 10:17) • (5) The church is the custodian of the kingdom. (Matt 16:19)

  8. B. The “Marks” of the Church (Distinguishing Characteristics) • 1. There Are True Churches and False Churches. • The Roman Catholic position: The visible church descended from Peter and the apostles is the true church. • The Reformation position: A true church is a church where the Word of God is preached and the sacraments are rightly administered. • 2. True and False Churches Today. • Some Protestant churches are certainly false. • Some Roman Catholic churches may be true.

  9. C. The Purposes of the Church • 1. Ministry to God: Worship. (Col 3:16; Eph 1:12; 5:16-19) • 2. Ministry to Believers: Nurture. (Col 1:28; Eph 4:12-13) • 3. Ministry to the World: Evangelism and Mercy. (Matt 28:19; Lk 6:35-36; 1 Jn 3:17)

  10. C. The Purposes of the Church • 4. Keeping These Purposes in Balance. • A strong church will have effective ministries in all three. • A church that neglects one will suffer. • Individuals within churches will be led and gifted by the Holy Spirit to place greater emphasis on one or the other.

  11. Special Terms • body of Christ • church • ekklesia • invisible church • marks of the church • visible church

  12. Chapter 45: The Purity and Unity of the Church What makes a church more or less pleasing to God? What kinds of churches should we cooperate with or join?

  13. A. More Pure and Less Pure Churches • Paul’s letters give evidence among true churches, there are less pure and more pure churches.(Phil 1:3-11; 2 Thess 1:3-4; Gal 1:6-9; 1 Cor 3:1-4)

  14. B. Definitions of Purity and Unity • The purity of the church is its degree of freedom from wrong doctrine and conduct, and its degree of conformity to God’s revealed will for the church. • The unity of the church is its degree of freedom from divisions among true Christians.

  15. C. Signs of a More Pure Church • (1) Biblical doctrine (Titus 1:9; Jude 3) • (2) Proper use of the sacraments (1 Cor 11:17-34) • (3) Right use of church discipline (1 Cor 5:6-7, 12-13) • (4) Genuine worship (Eph 5:18-20) • (5) Effective prayer • (6) Effective witness (Matt 28:19-20) • (7) Effective fellowship

  16. C. Signs of a More Pure Church • (8) Biblical church government (1 Tim 3:1-13) • (9) Spiritual power in ministry (Acts 1:8) • (10) Personal holiness of life among members (Heb 12:14) • (11) Care for the poor (Acts 4:32-35) • (12) Love for Christ (1 Pet 1:8) • The force of these passages reminds us that we are to work for the purity of the visible church.

  17. D. New Testament Teaching on the Unity of the Church • We have spiritual unity in Christ. (Jn 10:16; 17:23; Eph 4:4-6) • We are commanded to live in unity with one another. (1 Cor 1:10; Eph 4:1-3) • We are to oppose those who sow division. (Rom 16:17-18)

  18. D. New Testament Teaching on the Unity of the Church • We are never commanded to separate from believers, but from unbelievers. (2 Cor 6:14, 17; 2 Tim 3:2-5) • Some cases of church discipline will require separation, when a believer is living as an unbeliever • Scripture doesn’t command separation over doctrinal differences unless the faith itself is denied. • We are to work for the unity of the visible church.

  19. E. Brief History of Organizational Separation in the Church • General, outward unity until ad 1054. • Major divisions: • In 1054, the Eastern Church separated when the pope changed a church creed on his own authority. • In the 16th century, the Reformation split the Western church into RCC and Protestant branches. • Following this, the Protestant churches continued to splinter into hundreds of groups.

  20. E. Brief History of Organizational Separation in the Church • Some unity: • The ecumenical movement of the 1960’s—this was not generally successful. • The rise of neighborhood Bible study and prayer groups • A (regrettable) diminished doctrinal awareness among lay people.

  21. E. Brief History of Organizational Separation in the Church • Types of separation: • The formation of separate organizations • “No cooperation” in joint activities with other churches • “No personal fellowship” with members of another church

  22. F. Reasons for Separation • Some wrong reasons: • Personal ambition or pride • Differences on minor doctrines or practices

  23. F. Reasons for Separation • 1. Doctrinal Reasons. • Separation may be necessary when a church seriously deviates from biblical standards. (2 Jn 9-11) • Yet, Paul encourages believers to work for the purity of churches which had serious doctrinal and moral error. • Christians would seem to be required to withdraw from a church when it has become a false church due to severe, pervasive doctrinal error.

  24. F. Reasons for Separation • 2. Matters of Conscience. • A person may need to separate if the church is dominated by those with no evidence of saving faith. (2 Cor 6:14) • Some might find it necessary to leave a church if staying implied approval of an unbiblical doctrine or practice.

  25. F. Reasons for Separation • 3. Practical Considerations. • Some may leave if it seems that staying will do more harm than good. • Some may decide that continued affiliation with the parent church would imply approval of a false teaching in that church. • In all of these situations, prayer and mature judgment will be needed. Leaving a church is a serious action.

  26. F. Reasons for Separation • 4. Are There Times When Cooperation and Personal Fellowship Are Prohibited? • “Separate organizations” – These are required when unbelievers control the functions of the church. • “No cooperation” – This may be wise sometimes, but it generally promotes divisiveness. • “No fellowship” – This is never commanded in Scripture.

  27. Special Terms • Eastern church • purity of the church • separation • unity of the church • Western church

  28. Chapter 46: The Power of the Church What kind of authority does the church have? How should church discipline function?

  29. Explanation and Scriptural Basis • The power of the church is its God-given authority to carry on spiritual warfare, proclaim the gospel, and exercise church discipline.

  30. A. Spiritual Warfare • The church practices spiritual warfare (2 Cor 10:3-4; Eph 6:10-18): • Prayer • Worship • The authority to rebuke demonic forces • The words of Scripture • Faith • Righteous conduct by the members of the church

  31. A. Spiritual Warfare • Does the church today have the same degree of spiritual power as the apostles did? • There is certainly a distinction, as there was even then. (Acts 5:12-13; 2 Cor 13:10) • Yet, Paul instructed Christians to engage in spiritual warfare. (Eph 6:10-18; 2 Cor 10:3-4) • God will grant to the church at least some significant degree of spiritual power against evil opposition in every age.

  32. B. The Keys of the Kingdom • What are the keys of the kingdom? • Matt 16:19: I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (ESV) • A key always implies authority to open a door and give entrance to a place or realm. (Lk 11:52; Rev 1:18) • The “keys of the kingdom” represent the authority to preach the gospel of Christ.

  33. B. The Keys of the Kingdom • Two factors suggest that these keys also include the authority to exercise discipline in the church: • (1) The plural “keys” implies more than one door. • (2) Jesus completes the promise with a statement about binding and loosing. (cf. Matt 18:17-18)

  34. C. The Power of the Church and the Power of the State • Should the church use physical force to carry out its mission? • Scripture indicates the church should not do this. (Jn 18:36; 2 Cor 10:4; Lk 9:54-55) • God gives civil government the right to “bear the sword.” (Rom 13:1-7) • Jesus clearly distinguished between the authority of the government and the authority of the church. (Matt 22:21) • True faith cannot be compelled.

  35. C. The Power of the Church and the Power of the State • Additionally, the civil government should not enforce laws requiring or prohibiting kinds of church doctrine, or abridging the people’s freedom to worship as they choose.

  36. D. Church Discipline • 1. The Purpose of Church Discipline. • a. Restoration and Reconciliation of the Believer Who Is Going Astray. (Matt 18:15; Gal 6:1; Jas 5:20; 1 Tim 1:20; 1 Cor 5:5) • b. To Keep the Sin From Spreading to Others. (Heb 12:15; 1 Cor 5:2, 6-7; 1 Tim 5:20) • c. To Protect the Purity of the Church and the Honor of Christ. (1 Cor 5:1-2; 6:6; Eph 5:27; 2 Pet 3:14)

  37. D. Church Discipline • 2. For What Sins Should Church Discipline Be Exercised? • Any situation involving personal sin against someone else which cannot be resolved in private. (Matt 18:15-17) • The NT describes discipline for a wide range of sins, including divisiveness, laziness, incest, and heresy. • The principle seems to be that publicly known or outwardly evident sins were disciplined. • A word of admonition may do more harm than good when a believer is aware of and struggling against a sin.

  38. D. Church Discipline • 3. How Should Church Discipline Be Carried Out? • a. Knowledge of the Sin Should Be Kept to the Smallest Group Possible. (Matt 18:15-17) • b. Disciplinary Measures Should Increase in Strength Until There Is a Solution. (Matt 18:15-17) • c. Discipline of Church Leaders. (1 Tim 5:19-21) • On the basis of multiple witnesses • When they persist in sin • Publicly, in the sight of all

  39. D. Church Discipline • d. Other Aspects of Church Discipline: • As soon as there is repentance, Christians should welcome the repentant person back quickly into fellowship. (2 Cor 2:7-8; 7:8-11) • Discipline must be carried out with gentleness and humility. (Gal 6:1) • We must forgive even as we seek church discipline. (Matt 18:21-35)

  40. Special Terms • “binding and loosing” • excommunication • “keys of the kingdom” • power of the church • to take up the sword

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