THE CHURCH. New Testament Theology Joe Harvey Canoe Creek Christian Church (2015)

Transcription

1 THE CHURCH New Testament Theology Joe Harvey Canoe Creek Christian Church (2015)

2 OWNERSHIP OF THE CHURCH MATTHEW 16: When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, Who do people say the Son of Man is? 14 They replied, Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. 15 But what about you? he asked. Who do you say I am? 16 Simon Peter answered, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 Jesus replied, Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

3 JESUS IS HEAD OF THE CHURCH He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (Colossians 1:17-18 NIV) To ask more bluntly, is Jesus our mascot of our master? Do we simply use his name and logo (the cross) on our letterhead and church signs then proceed by our own power, advancing our own agendas, and relying on our own abilities. Or, do we submit everything utterly everything to his authority and direction? Unless Jesus holds the central position in the church we have lost connection with the head. (Overdorf 271)

4 WE ARE THE BODY The Church as an Extension of Jesus (1 Corinthians 12:27): Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. The Church as Interdependent Contributors to the Body (Romans 12:4-8): For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

5 ONE ANOTHER PASSAGES ROMANS Be devoted to one another (Rom 12:10) Honor one another (Rom 12:10) Live in harmony with one another (Rom 12:16) Stop passing judgment on one another (Rom 14:13) Accept one another (Rom 15:7) Greet one another (Rom 16:16) EPHESIANS Bear with one another (Eph 4:2) Be kind and compassionate to one another (Eph 4:32) Forgive each other (Eph 4:32) Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Eph 5:19) Submit to one another (Eph 5:21)

6 The first thing to understand about the church s nature is that it is a group of people who are qualitatively distinct from everyone else on earth. It is composed of those who have been separated from the mass of fallen mankind and who constitute a new creation as it presently exists in the very midst of the old creation. JACK COTTRELL, Faith Once for All, 400 THE CHURCH AS A HOLY NATION

7 HOLINESS AS SEPARATION Israel: You shall be my own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exodus 19:5-6). The Church: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9). Ekklesia ( the called out ones ) Called by God Call from the Old Creation Called to Holiness Called to Good Works (Ephesians 2:10) Hagioi ( saints or holy ones )

8 EVOLUTION OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT 1 st Century Local independent congregations Overseen by plurality of elders 2 nd Century Group of local congregations. Overseen by Monarchical Bishop 3 rd Century Group of Bishops Overseen by Archbishop 4 th Century Group of Archbishops Overseen by Bishop of Rome Church-wide Councils (Nicaea, 325)

9 THE INVISIBLE CHURCH THE SAVED KNOWN FULLY ONLY BY GOD Membership in the church universal is thus defined in terms of one s personal relationship with Christ, regardless of his relationship to any particular local congregation or any particular form of church government. Thus the church is invisible in the sense that its boundaries cannot be seen by men, but only by God. --Cottrell 423

10 THE LOCAL CHURCH Church Membership Church Leadership Elders in the Local Church presbyteros (elder), episkopos (overseer, bishop), poimen (pastor); 1 Peter 5:1-2 1 Timothy 3:1-7; above reproach Shepherd Imagery (Acts 20:28) Deacons in the Local Church (1 Timothy 3:8-13) Other Service Roles (Ephesian 4:12; every Christian minister) Leadership & Gender Galatians 3:28 1 Timothy 2:12 Shepherd Elder Overseer Guide Give Care Feed Protect