What Does the Bible Say About Why Am I A Member of the Church of Christ #8?

In this episode, we continue to look at what the Bible says about why am I a member of the Church of Christ. We have looked at what the local churches of Christ did in their worship of God and were discussing the last item, preaching, when we ran out of time in the last episode. So, we begin by completing our discussion of preaching in the New Testament church. We noted several passages where Paul said that the gospel was preached throughout the whole world in the first century by following the Lord's simple arrangement of the church. In addition to preaching, the other items of worship are the Lord's Supper, Singing, Praying, Giving, and Teaching. We note that there are over 2,000 denominations all teaching different doctrine. But the Lord only built one Church. We discuss a number of passages that say this, that also call the Lord's Church His body and His kingdom. We next move to a discussion of the structure or set-up of the Church as taught in the scriptures. We talk about how the denominational churches are not structured according to the Lord's instructions in His word and why this is a problem. We next talk about the Church and the Body of Christ as the Kingdom of God and the fact that it exists today. Christ is King of the church and has given us His commands in His word that consists of a pattern we are to follow. We talk about this concept and point out the problem of denominations not following that pattern which basically contains the commands of the Lord. In the next episode we will discuss the appointment of elders in every local church of Christ. Take about 30 - minutes to listen in on our discussion. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what we are saying. There is a transcript of this Buzzsprout episode provided for your convenience.

Transcript

Fred Gosnell: 0:00

This is a presentation of the Woodland church of Christ meeting at 3370 Broad Street in Sumter, South Carolina. We meet for worship on Sunday at ten thirty am and five thirty pm. We meet for bible study at nine thirty am on Sunday and seven pm on Wednesday. If you have questions or comments on this lesson, you may email them to Arnie Granke at agranke440718@twc.com or to Eric McClam at ericmcclam50@outlook.com or to Fred Gosnell at fgosnell@ftc-i.net.

Arnie: 0:45

gGod afternoon. This is Arnie Granke, nd with me this afternoon are Fred Gosnell and Eric's with us as well. And Glenn couldn't be here this time, but probably next week, we'll, we'll have him with us again. This is what does the Bible say, and we want to talk about the subject of why each of us have become members of the Body of Christ. So I'm going to pass it, pass it to Fred and and then Eric, and then I will also have a part of this Go ahead Fred.

Fred Gosnell: 1:24

Well, Arnie, last week, we were talking about preaching. That's one of the things that the local church does as a part of its worship. And we ended in Romans, one eight we quoted that Paul writes and says, First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. So the point was that part of the preaching, of course, was done during the worship, and then the members of the church learn, learned the truth. And then, of course, that passage says that the gospel had already gone out to all the world. Of course, this is past tense, so when Paul wrote that it had already been done. And in Colossians, one verse, 23 there, Paul writes there, he says, If indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which Paul became a minister. So again, Paul reminds us that the gospel was preached to every creature under heaven. He told the Romans throughout the whole world. So here's another verse that uses past tense saying that the gospel had been preached to every creature under heaven. So do we believe God's word? If we do, we believe exactly what it says. It was prophesied that His word would go to all the world, all the whole world. Christ ordered the apostles to ensure the word was preached everywhere. We remember that in Mark chapter 16, verse 15, and Paul records in the two scriptures that we mentioned that the gospel had been preached everywhere. So we always hear people talk about the poor soul who has never heard the gospel. Of course, the Bible is the most available book in the world today. There are missionaries everywhere, so we are to continue to preach. And that is one of the things we do in the assemblies of the Lord's church. We preach. Of course, we need to remember that one of the first individuals in the first century, the Ethiopian eunuch, learned the gospel and obeyed it and went back to Ethiopia there in the first century. And no doubt, taught the people that he knew. So we've talked about the items of worship we find in the New Testament, and we talked about each of those, these the Lord's Supper, singing, praying, giving, teaching and preaching are the things we find in God's word that we are either directly told to do in worship, or they are examples of what we see the early local church to do, the first century church. So why is it important that we imitate the early first century church? Of course, that was during the period when the apostles, who were inspired men, were still here overseeing the work and worship of the church. The church is in the local sense, as we understand. So we see in Acts, a few examples of when the apostles had to be consulted to settle matters of the church. So we will talk more about the elders in the church, but we find that the apostles had to ensure elders were installed in every local church. The elders were men who were highly knowledgeable and could help guide the and teach new Christians in doctrine and righteousness. So our next topic will be the structure or the organization of the Church, which will include Christ, the elders, deacons and evangelists. So. So I'm a member of the Church of Christ because it worships God the way the Bible teaches for God to be worshiped. And I'll pass it on to Eric there for the next subject.

Eric: 5:11

next subject we will be talking about is going to be concerning the church and why I am a member of the Church of Christ. So far, we have come a long way in answering the question, Why am I a member of the Church of Christ? We have looked at the following things that concern this question. First, who built the church? In Matthew 16, verses, 15 and 16, Jesus said. Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou Simon bar Jonah, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father, which is in heaven, and I say unto thee that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Right there it tells you who built the church, who was the owner of the church. As we just read that Jesus is the owner of the church. In Matthew chapter 16, verses 15 and 16. Who or what is the foundation of the church? In Ephesians, chapter two, verses 19 and 20, it tells us who is the foundation of the church. And it says, Now, therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God and are built upon the foundations of the apostles and the prophets. Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. And also, but next thing, Jesus prophesied, and Paul warned the people that people will come and try to lead the members and lead the church away from the truth. And we also see that that Jesus also spoke about that's happening when false prophets will come, in Matthew chapter five, chapter seven, verse 15, where he said, Beware of false prophets which come in sheep clothing, but inwardly they are raving wolves. And also he stated in Matthew 24, 24, for there shall arise false Christ's and false prophets, and shall show great signs of wonders, and so much that, if it were possible, they shall deceit the very elect. And that was the quotation from Jesus in those two passages. And also Paul stated in the New Testament in Romans, chapter 16, verses 18 and 19, when he was talking about people leading folks away from or other people away from the word of Christ, He said, Now I beseech you brethren, rank/mark them which called divisions or con or offenses contrary to the doc, doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them, for they are such that serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Also when the Church was established, the church was established on the day of Pentecost, and we read that earlier in Acts, chapter two, verse 47 which says, They was praising God and having favor with all the people and the Lord added to the church daily, such as those are being saved. With saying that with that passage right there, you can't just join the Church. The Lord have to add you to the Church. The Church was established. It was established in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost in AD 33 after the resurrection of Christ and His ascension. How a person become a member of the church? This is also how a person becomes saved. We have to hear the gospel. We have to believe it. We have to repent of our sins. We have to confess that Christ, that Jesus is the Christ. We have to be baptized. And lastly, we have to remain faithful. The things that Christ do in worship to God in the church, this is something that we should do, and something that is commanded us to do is worship, in worship Christ and worship God in truth and spirit.

Arnie: 9:23

There's a that's a lot of information there, Eric, but we still have some more to to talk about, I think. When we're ready to find a group of people to worship with, it's important that we choose the one that most closely aligns with the document that tells of that group, in other words, the Bible. Unfortunately, we're in a world where individuality carries a lot of weight. We now have over 2000 groups, we speak of them as denominations there that claim to each one be Christian. So we can see that there's a lot of individuality out there. Each one of those groups, groups teach different things about God's word. They worship in different ways. They set up their own organizations differently from what the Bible teaches. There are a few big problems with that. One is that God said that there's only one church, not 2000. That's a little over, little bit of overkill, seems to me. Let's, let's read the following here. I'm going to read from Ephesians chapter four, beginning in in verse four, and down through verse six, there and and we'll show that to be the case. There's one body and one Spirit, just as you are called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and and in you all. And the word body in that passage must be understood to mean the church. We're not talking about a human body there. We've, we've shown this previously already, but it's, it's something we, I think we need to keep emphasizing from from time to time. In the Colossian letter, Colossians chapter one and verse 18, speaking of Jesus, Paul wrote and said, He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the first born from the dead, that in all things he may have the preeminence.

Fred Gosnell: 12:03

Of course, this passage clearly states that the body, his body, is the church, His Church. Then Ephesians, chapter 1, 22, and 23, now notice what Paul wrote there. He says, He put all things under his feet and gave Him, Jesus, to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all. So this is another passage that clearly states that the church is his or the Lord's body. Of course, we've shown this before, but it's something we need to continue to reiterate, because the idea that the church can be split into many different segments and still be pleasing to God is false. Hopefully you remember those passages we read that show that God is not pleased when his people split themselves into groups and teach things other than the gospel that they heard from the apostles. Those passages were in first, Corinthians, 1, 10 to 13, and Galatians, one three through 10. Of course, it's very clear that those passages, from those passages, that God is not pleased with division. So our next subject is thye structure, or the setup of the church. Many would say, Well, I don't know of any direction from the scriptures that tell us how to organize or set up the church. Of course, it is not really that we set it up. We just make sure that the organization or the structure of the church is in line with what the Bible teaches. Of course, if we look at denominationalism, we find that there are different organizational structures of the different denominations. One of the most prominent, of course, would be the Catholic Church, which has a pope as head of that church, bishops who oversee large areas, many local churches, priests who head up local congregations. Of course, other denominations have national headquarters with people who control the denomination throughout the country or the region or or the world, even. Other leaders between them and the local churches, people who are called pastors that preach and lead the Congregation .For some of these terms are Bible terms, but, the organization is not according to what the Bible teaches. So there are many different structures we find in the groups that call themselves Christian. The question that we need to ask is, what is the way God has told us, or what is the example we find in the New Testament for the structure of the church? That is what, that is what we will answer in this lesson.

Eric: 14:43

You know, if y'all don't mind if I go back to where Arnie just read in Ephesians, chapter four, verses four through six. And just reading those chapters, those verses, you know, one was mentioned seven times the word one was mentioned seven times. So the people just need to take heed to that. There's only one. But going back to what Fred was talking about that we're going to look at some more concerning the establishment of the church. We have already established that the church is the same as the kingdom of God, which we also read that in Matthew chapter 16, verses 18 through 19, and it is the same as the body of Christ and that it exists now. So let's take a look at some at some more of this. Acts, Chapter Two, we're gonna read verses 29 down to 36 where it says, Men and brethren, let us speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is now with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet and knowing that God has sworn, with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ and sit on his throne. He foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ that his soul was not left in Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus, God raised up, of which we all witness, therefore, being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you know, see and hear. For David did not ascend into heaven, but he says himself, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool. Therefore, let the house of Israel know, assuringly, that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Arnie: 16:53

That's a very important passage that you that you just read,. Eric. Peter was the one preaching in this particular passage, and it was the day of Pentecost following Jesus' death, burial, resurrection and ascension to Heaven. You see in this passage that Peter, who by inspiration of the Holy Spirit speaks about David, who had died centuries earlier, was buried and was still buried, was a prophet, and he said that God would raise up Christ to sit on David's throne. He said that Christ would be exalted to sit at the right hand of of God. Very interesting part of this passage is the end of verses 30 verse 34 and and then verse 35 where Peter quotes from Psalm 110, verse one, in which he says that God said to Jesus, Sit at my right hand. In the next verse, verse 36 Peter said that Christ had been made both Lord and Christ. Therefore we know that Christ is our king, sitting on the right hand of God, ruling over his kingdom, the church. He is in that position now. It's not something that will happen in the future, but he is already reigning on his throne over his body, and that body is is the church. We read Colossians. One verse 18, a few minutes ago. Fred, how about if we look at that a bit more of that passage beginning in Colossians. One verse 13.

Fred Gosnell: 18:59

Okay, so beginning from verse 13, Paul writes, he says He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of his the Son of His love, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness, forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him, all things were created that are in heaven, that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things. And in Him, all things consist and he, Jesus, 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. So we Christians have been delivered into Christ's kingdom, identified here as the church. Christ is the head of the body, the church, and he has the preeminence. This means that Jesus is our king and is in control. We know that in a kingdom, all laws and everything that is done within that kingdom has the approval of the king. If Christ is King of the church, only he can approve anything that goes on in the church, from its structure to how things are done within the church. We have a document that gives us those directions or pattern on all of issues pertaining to the church. What we have to do is study and examine the Scriptures so that we know those directions, the rules, the pattern for the church. And of course, that word pattern you'll find that in the New Testament concerning the church and concerning what it does. So what has happened in denominations is that people who are supposed to be subject to the king, Christ, have made their own rules, their own instructions, their own patterns. Denominations have bylaws. They have creeds, catechisms, declarations, all kinds of written things for people to follow in their denomination that give the rules, the standards, the patterns by which the church conducts itself. The denominational church does. So each one has something different. Christ has only approved that pattern that is set forth in His Word, and no other. When we want to know how the church should be set up, or how the church should worship, we don't need to ask anyone, because we have the document that tells us the words from the king the Bible.

Eric: 21:34

And the passage to go along with that. We're going to go with Ephesians chapter one. We're going to read verses 19 to 23 and it says, And what is the exceeding greatness of His power towards us who believe according to the works of his mighty power which he worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated him at the right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principalities and powers and might and dominions and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in which to come. 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. In reading this passage, it is impossible for us not to understand that Jesus Christ is in charge now. It is not some future occurrences, but it is right now, just like it was when these words was written, Christ is now seated at the right hand of God in heaven, and he is over all principalities and power and dominion. He is the head over all things to the church, which is His body. Since Christ is in this position, we must understand that it is through him that we must go to get the instruction and anything pertaining to the church, not any person. We have read before that it is by Christ's words that we will be judged. His words last forever.

Arnie: 23:13

Eric, I think another passage that fits with with that thought is Second Timothy, chapter one, starting at verse 13, 13, and 14, Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you heard from me in faith and love, which are in Christ, Jesus, That good thing which was committed to you. Keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. Paul was speaking through the Holy Spirit. And I guess we should say the Holy Spirit was speaking through, through, through Paul. And he told Timothy to hold fast the pattern of sound words. This is a command that passes on to us as well. The pattern of sound words is what we have contained, we have contained in the Bible. To hold fast to that pattern is not to sway or vary from the pattern, from the instruction, from the standards that are given to us. We have mentioned many times those scriptures we've referred to at the beginning of our study here a while back in Revelation, chapter 22 I'll give you the verses again so you can look them up, verses 18 and 19, and then also Deuteronomy, chapter four and verse two. These are passages that we are not to add to or to take away from in in regards to God's word. When we do either one, we're violating God's law. Remember, we learned the same, many years. Remember, we learned that God's word is forever. Jesus Christ the same today as he was many years ago, and he will be the same many years in the future. His Word does not change. So we have seen that Jesus is the King. He's the head. He's the leader of the church. We cannot look to any other as the one who sets the rules or the standards, or, if you will, the structure of of the church. Only those standards that have been approved by Jesus and written in the Bible, particularly the New Testament, are applicable to us. If we see or read or hear anything different, we know that it is not true. Just like when we hear of a way to get into his church or to be saved differently than what's written in His Word, we know it's not the truth. This sounds really harsh, but we're we're not trying to be harsh, and we're not trying to say that, that that you're necessarily wrong. We're just telling what the standard from the Bible, the Word of God, is, and when someone tells you that you can be saved and you can believe and say the sinners prayer, you know that's not the truth. It's just not in the Bible, and it comes from one place and one place only, and that place is where Satan, he has his abode. I only brought that up at this point in order to make a make another point, and that is that we must have scriptural reference for everything that we, that we do, related to the church and in in seeking to serve God.

Fred Gosnell: 27:10

So Christ is the head of the church, head of the body the church. So what is the rest of the structure of the church? Paul told wrote Titus, who was a true son in our common faith. He was his son from a spiritual standpoint. He taught him the truth in in Titus one five, he says, 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. Paul told Titus to appoint elders in every city in that area. We will see more about elders in a few moments, probably next week, because we're going to be out of time here pretty soon.

Arnie: 27:49

We are.

Fred Gosnell: 27:49

So and when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the souls of disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, We must, through many tribulations, enter the kingdom of God. So when they had appointed elders in every church and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. So we just need to make a comment here. Now you'll notice that there were churches in that time. Those churches were in different localities. So the church that Jesus built was is a spiritual body, and its headquarters are in heaven. So the way that his saints operate in doing what He commands us to do, preach the gospel and worship Him in Spirit of Truth, we do that in local churches. And of course, as we go through we'll be talking about appointing elders in those churches in which which they did. So we will be learning that each local church had responsibilities to do, that each local church was to worship in spirit and in truth, and each local church was to follow the pattern that they find in the New Testament and and that means that each local church would teach and do the same thing. We didn't, we won't have one church of Christ teaching one thing and another church of Christ teaching something different. We have to teach the same thing, following the same pattern.

Arnie: 29:30

Well, we're just about out of time here. So what we would mention to you, if you have a map in your Bible, look for some of these churches, like Lystra and Iconium and Antioch and Derbe and and you'll see some of the places where Paul preached. And of course, if you if you look through your New Testament, you'll find passages of Scripture just as we have there that tell you where these things occurred and what occurred there and what the circumstances were. We hope that you'll tune us in again next Lord's Day afternoon, and in the meantime, we, as you, study the Bible, we wish, wish you Godspeed in that and look forward to being with you again next week.