ADULT QUARTERLY. Vol. 87, No. 4 ISSUED SEPTEMBER 1, 2001 FALL QUARTER THE CHURCH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

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1 Baptist Training Course ADULT QUARTERLY Vol. 87, No. 4 ISSUED SEPTEMBER 1, 2001 FALL QUARTER THE CHURCH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT Quarterly Aim: The student will explain the importance of a New Testament church and apply himself to faithfully serve the Lord as a member of one of His churches. Prepared by David Johnson BILL JOHNSON Editor in Chief WAYNE SEWELL Business Manager CONTENTS Lesson No. 1, September 2, 2001 The Origin of the Church Lesson No. 2, September 9, 2001 The Foundation of the Church Lesson No. 3, September 16, 2001 The Purpose of the Church Lesson No. 4, September 23, 2001 The Nature of the Church Lesson No. 5, September 30, 2001 The Membership of the Church Lesson No. 6, October 7, 2001 The Authority of the Church Lesson No. 7, October 14, 2001 The Ordinances of the Church Lesson No. 8, October 21, 2001 The Offices of the Church Lesson No. 9, October 28, 2001 The Discipline of the Church Lesson No. 10, November 4, 2001 The Perpetuity of the Church Lesson No. 11, November 11, 2001 The Persecution of the Church Lesson No. 12, November 18, 2001 The Pertinence of the Church Lesson No. 13, November 25, 2001 The Destiny of the Church ADULT QUARTERLY, Baptist Training Course, is published quarterly at 83 cents per quarter. Cover design by Jeff Allen. Cover Image 1996 PhotoDisc, Inc. Copyright 2001, BAPTIST SUNDAY SCHOOL COMMITTEE of the American Baptist Association, 4605 N. State Line, Texarkana, TX

2 LESSON 1, September 2, 2001 The Origin of the Church LESSON AIM The student will affirm the origin of a New Testament church to have been during the personal, earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. SCRIPTURES TO READ Text: Matthew 16:18; Mark 3: Background Scripture: Matthew 3:1-6; 18:15-19; 26:26-29; Mark 1:1-8, 14-20; 2:13, 14; 14:22-25; Luke 22:19, 20; John 1:35-45; Acts 20:28; Revelation 1:4-6. Devotional Reading: The True Vine, John 15:1-5. Introduction The lessons in this quarter s study contain important instruction for churches. We live in a time when people have little understanding of what a true church of God really is. They assume any group with the name church on the sign must be a true church of God. Because of this, people are being fooled at an alarming rate. Though there are religious organizations on almost every street corner, there are very few scriptural churches in the world today. This quarter s lessons will serve to show the difference between true churches and the religions of the world. If you were asked to distinguish whether a person was a police officer, what would you do? You would look at the person and see if there was something about him to reveal his identity. He is wearing a police uniform. He is riding in a police car. Most importantly, he has a badge from your city authorizing him to perform the duties of a police officer. Because of these things, you declare him to be an officer. How can you make that determination? The person has all the marks to prove he is a police officer. 2

3 Scriptural churches have distinguishing marks about them. Those marks help to determine whether a group of people is really a scriptural church. If it does not possess these identifying characteristics, then it is not a scriptural church. The lessons in this quarter s study will show what makes a church scriptural and of the Lord. This lesson deals with the origin of the church. For a church to be of the Lord, it must have a proper beginning. That start cannot come after the life of Christ. For the church to be the Lord s church, Christ must have formed and established it during His own ministry. This lesson will show what most of the religious world believe about the beginning of the church. The true beginning of the church will be verified by showing scriptural proofs. 1. Prevalent Belief of the World The world has arrived at an opinion of when the church was established. The world s idea of the origin of the church is that it began on the day of Pentecost. Why do some people believe this? One reason people want to believe in a Pentecostal origin of the church is a misunderstanding of what a church really is. Most false religions teach the church consists of all the saved from Pentecost to the rapture. This is commonly called the universal church idea. They want the formation of the church to be something spectacular. The actual calling out of the church was not spectacular. (See the third part of this lesson for this event.) The day of Pentecost was extremely spectacular. They point to this event as the beginning of the church. Another reason some people believe the church started on Pentecost is their misunderstanding of Matthew 16:18. In this verse Jesus said, Upon this rock I will build my church. They take the phrase, I will build my church and declare the church had not been built yet. The word build that Jesus used did not give the picture of beginning the construction of something. Instead, it painted a picture of a building being completed. Jesus was declaring He would continue the construction of His church until it was completed. The structure had already been started. It only needed finishing. Those who point to this verse as proof the church began on Pentecost are mistaken. This verse proves the church had already begun. 3

4 Still another reason false religions teach a Pentecostal origin of the church is because of their founder. They were built by Satan. Satan hates anything true and holy. He wants to defeat scriptural churches so they will no longer work for the Lord. If people believe Jesus did not personally establish His church, they can make the changes they want. They do not have to be tied to what Jesus taught. Satan wins a victory when we believe the church began on the day of Pentecost. The world is mistaken on the origin of the church. Many people say it began on the day of Pentecost. This is wrong. We must always strive to be correct in all our beliefs. The origin of the church is no different. We should know when the church began. 2. Pre-Pentecostal Origin of the Church How do we know the church began before the day of Pentecost? Some say we believe this just to be different than other religions. Is there scriptural proof the church existed before Pentecost? The events on the day of Pentecost prove the church was already in existence. After Peter preached the great message that day, hundreds were convicted of their sins. They came and asked what they should do. Peter told them two things. First, they needed to be saved. This involved repentance for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Second, they needed to be baptized. This was not to save them, but to identify them with the Lord. What happened on that day? Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls (verse 41). These three thousand people were added unto them. For people to have been added to the church, it must have already existed. Some days before Pentecost, this group we call the church met together. It had a special service. (See Acts 1:15-26.) The time had come for it to replace Judas as an apostle. That day the church conducted business by electing Matthias to be numbered with the twelve. The church had a business meeting prior to Pentecost. Even during the earthly ministry of Christ, the church was in existence. Jesus instructed His disciples how to handle personal problems in the church. First, try to handle it one-on-one. If that does not work, take two or three brothers with you. If that still will not solve the problem, tell it unto the church: but if he 4

5 neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican (Matt. 18:17). The church was given authority to conduct discipline prior to the day of Pentecost. The church must have been in existence. These are proofs of the existence of the church prior to the day of Pentecost. Many others could be cited. The Gospels share many examples of the church at work before Pentecost. These would include baptisms, establishing the Lord s Supper and receiving the Great Commission. The church existed before Pentecost. 3. Personal Ministry Origin of the Church Church is properly defined as a called-out assembly. For the church of Jesus Christ to properly be called a church, it must meet that definition. When did the calling out take place? Jesus first communicated with those who became His disciples after His own baptism. John related the story of when John the Baptist first saw Jesus. He pointed toward Jesus by saying, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29). On that occasion, some who would become apostles expressed an interest in who this man was. Jesus allowed them to go to His home. They did not remain with Him on that occasion. Shortly after that, Jesus walked on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. On that occasion He called Peter, Andrew, James and John to go with Him and become fishers of men (Matt. 4:18-22). These men became the nucleus for His church. Others were soon added, but the church was established by Jesus Christ as He walked by the Sea of Galilee. Of course this was during His earthly, personal ministry. This proves when the church was established. It does not matter what some denomination says. What matters is what God said in His book. May we always rely on God s instructions and not on the fanciful imagination of man. 5

6 LESSON 2, September 9, 2001 The Foundation of the Church LESSON AIM The student will state that Jesus Christ is the head and founder of a New Testament church. SCRIPTURES TO READ Text: Matthew 16: Background Scripture: Matthew 4:12-25; 10:1-42; 1 Corinthians 3:10-17; Ephesians 1:20-23; 2:20-22; Hebrews 2:9-13. Devotional Reading: That Rock Was Christ, 1 Corinthians 10:4. Introduction What is a foundation? The foundation of a building is what is first laid. Without a good foundation, a building will have little or no strength. A biblical illustration of this was shown in the story of the wise man and the foolish man. The wise man built a house. Before constructing the walls, he dug deeply and laid a foundation on the bedrock. The foolish man thought it silly to spend such time building something no one would ever see. So he began the construction of his walls on the sandy soil. The two men completed the construction of their houses. Then the stormy season came to the area. The wise man had no worries because his house was built on a strong foundation. The foolish man should have been worried. When the winds and waters began to beat on his house, it could not stand because it had no foundation. In this quarterly, we are studying the church as taught in the New Testament. In the lesson Text, the Lord compared the church to constructing a building. He said, I will build my church (Matt. 16:18). The word build that He used described the action of completing the structure of a building. Jesus was already in the process of building His church. He would contin- 6

7 ue to work until He completed the structure. How could he do this? He was building on a good foundation. Remember how important a foundation is to a building. For Jesus to build a strong church, it had to have a strong and lasting foundation. What was the foundation upon which the Lord built His church? This lesson will direct our attention to the foundation of the church and what that foundation includes. 1. The Foundation of the Church How did the church begin? The previous lesson showed how Jesus personally called out disciples to form the beginning of His church. It began with four men called out on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. It continued as Jesus called other men to participate in His ministry. The members of that first church continued with Christ for the rest of His earthly ministry. They were the beginning of the church. What was the foundation of that church? This was part of what Jesus discussed with them in the lesson Text. He said, Upon this rock I will build my church (Matt. 16:18). What rock was He talking about? Is this an important statement? His statement went back to a declaration made by Peter. Jesus had been teaching the multitudes. The Pharisees and Sadducees had come to Jesus asking for a sign to prove He was the Messiah. Jesus refused their request. Soon after that, Jesus asked His disciples a question. Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? (verse 13). The reply was that most people thought Jesus was a good teacher or a prophet like Elijah or Jeremiah. Jesus then asked the disciples who they thought He was. Peter spoke for them all. Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God (verse 16). Jesus said this was the Rock upon which He would build His church. His identification with a rock went back to Old Testament Scriptures. Moses taught the people of Israel how different the true God was than the false gods of the nations around them. He declared, For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges (Deut. 32:31). The Lord God was their rock of safety. He was their refuge and their source of strength. He was a rock. This was not some hidden fact. Even the enemy nations knew how strong the Rock of Israel was. As 7

8 Israel approached Palestine, the nations felt dread because of the power of Israel s God. Jesus applied this idea to Himself. He would be the Rock upon which the church would find its strength and refuge. Jesus is the foundation of the church. A strong foundation was laid for the church. The ground was not just scraped, and the foundation laid on sandy soil. Jesus dug deep and laid the foundation on the bedrock of His own power. He is the foundation upon which the church was built. 2. The Foundation of Its Work The foundation is not the completion of the structure. The foundation is only the beginning. When it is laid, then the work begins. When Jesus laid Himself as the foundation for the church, He was simply preparing a place of service for His people. We are to carry out the work of the Lord today. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth to challenge it to grow in service to the Lord. Its members had been babes in Christ (1 Cor. 3:1), but Paul wanted more from it. He told its members the foundation was set. It was none other than Jesus Christ (verses 10, 11). We must be careful how we build on His foundation. The building materials were also discussed by Paul. He said we had the choice of building materials. We could choose wood, hay and stubble or gold, silver and precious stones. No one forces a certain kind of material upon us. We choose for ourselves. Think logically about the kinds of building materials available to us. From a material viewpoint, which is more valuable wood, hay and stubble or gold, silver and precious stones? Of course gold, silver and precious stones are more valuable. Why would anyone choose the less precious? We want our houses to be beautiful. We even want the church house to be beautiful. Let us do what we can to make our spiritual house the most beautiful it can be. This will be done through our service to the Lord. As children of God, we do not have the privilege of going out and working any way we choose and expecting God to receive honor from it. We must build on the foundation already laid. That foundation is Jesus. Is your life honoring God? Are you building with precious materials on the foundation laid by Jesus? 8

9 3. The Foundation of Its Beliefs Another important part of our foundation in Jesus Christ is the stability it gives in matters of doctrine and belief. When Jesus asked the disciples their opinion of Him, He was asking what they believed. Peter s declaration was a statement of belief in the deity of Christ. He showed what he believed about Christ. Too many people base their doctrines on what their denomination tells them is true. This is placing faith on a human founder and head. Most religions trace their history to a particular man who broke off from some other religion and established his own. He would declare his own doctrinal stance and would expect his followers to take up that standard. These are religions based on the fallible minds of men. A belief system based on God is much better than one based on fallible man. Remember Jesus is the Rock upon which the church is built. He was declared by Peter to be the Christ, the Son of the living God. This statement of faith was of great importance to Peter and the disciples. No matter what other people would say, they would stand on that one truth. If our doctrines are based on what Jesus said, they are reliable. If they are based on what men declare, they are highly questionable. Paul wrote words of challenge concerning who we could trust as our basis for doctrine. Let God be true, but every man a liar (Rom. 3:4). Always know when man s statements conflict with God s, man is a liar and God is always true. Jesus is our Rock, our foundation of doctrinal belief. What a foundation has been laid for the church! No one can successfully attack it. The gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matt. 16:18). Let us build on His great foundation. 9

10 LESSON 3, September 16, 2001 The Purpose of the Church LESSON AIM The student will understand the mission of a New Testament church to be threefold: evangelizing the world, baptizing believers and teaching them the Scriptures. SCRIPTURES TO READ Text: Matthew 28: Background Scripture: Matthew 9:37, 38; Mark 1:17; 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:8; 20:20, 21, 26, 27; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 15:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-8. Devotional Reading: They Went Everywhere, Acts 8:4-6. Introduction A question asked by many people of different times is Why are we here? People always want to know the reason for their existence. The thought of this lesson deals with why the church is in existence. Too many people think the only reason a New Testament church exists is to meet the demands of the church members. Does the Lord s church exist to provide services for the membership or to reach out to a lost and dying world? Exactly why does His church exist? The aim of this lesson uses a phrase which readily defines our role in this present world. The challenge for us is to understand the mission of a New Testament church. The word mission has the idea of sending to a work or assigning a work to someone. The church has a mission a task to perform, a work assigned. What is the work of the church? Jesus was careful to assign the tasks each church should fulfill. What responsibilities have been given to the churches? 10

11 1. The Church Is an Organization of Outreach The first work of a New Testament church is to go to the world and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. The commission Jesus gave to His churches is repeated in each of the Gospels and in the book of Acts. While the wording is slightly different, the message of the commission is the same. This gives direction for each church to follow. Each church should go to the world and preach the gospel. Matthew used the phrase teach all nations (Matt. 28:19). The word teach means to make disciples of all nations. The idea was to help them become followers of Jesus Christ. How would this be accomplished? Mark used the phrase preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). They were to boldly proclaim the message of salvation. Luke used the word witness in his gospel and in Acts. This means to give a testimony of what the person had seen or experienced. How could these early disciples reach their world with the gospel? They could proclaim boldly what they knew about Jesus Christ. They did not have to go through deep theological training. All they had to do was testify what they had experienced. This would be effective in reaching out to the world. Peter and John were given great opportunities to witness of Jesus Christ. On one occasion, they were arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin. They began a discussion with men who had received much training. The Sadducees could not answer the arguments of these followers of Christ. They were amazed. How could these men argue with such conviction? Notice what the Scriptures said about this situation. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). While these two men did not have deep theological training, they did possess something the Sadducees did not have. They had a personal relationship with the Christ. They had been with Jesus. We have the responsibility to take the message of salvation to a lost and dying world. If we fail in this work, thousands, even 11

12 millions will die and go to hell. This is the beginning work and purpose of a true church. Let us do our part. 2. The Church Is an Organization of Instruction Most people in the world think winning souls is the only work of a church, and once people are saved, we have done all we can. That simply is not true. The commission gave further responsibilities. They can be summed up in the idea of instruction. How are we to instruct? The instruction begins by bringing people into the fellowship of a local church. The Lord commanded, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matt. 28:19). The pattern of salvation and then baptism was followed by the early church. On the day of Pentecost, the members of the church at Jerusalem went to the streets with the gospel. This was in fulfillment of the first part of the Great Commission. When people were saved, they followed the remainder of the commission as well. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls (Acts 2:41). Those who were saved were baptized and became members of the church in Jerusalem. Why was this important? The instruction of young Christians cannot be accomplished unless they are gathered together. What better gathering can there be than to fellowship within a church. That gives the individual a home base. It gives him a ready tool for his own preparation for service. The church has a responsibility to bring new converts into its fellowship. Once people become members of a church, they are in a good position to learn. Think of a child and education. We cannot expect children to learn unless they are in a class setting. To let a child grow up without the benefit of an education is unthinkable. Yet, we have many who believe it is fine for newly born babes in Christ to be turned loose without the benefit of a godly education. That truly is unthinkable. We must fulfill our obligation to the Lord. We must educate our new members. How can a church achieve full education of its members? First, a church must develop a plan of education. This means implementing a structured Sunday School program. It should also include a time of Baptist teaching. This is why churches 12

13 have BTC Baptist Training Course. This is a time when we can go further in the training of our membership. These should be a part of the education plan of every church. Christian education also includes sermons by the pastor which will edify and train the members. Additional opportunities for Bible study can also be included in this plan. We must do what we can to teach every member of our churches. Education of the membership is not optional for churches. This is a primary requirement for every church. We must train our members so they will complete the work of the commission. 3. The Church Is an Organization of Service Why is it important for churches to teach the Bible and Christian living to the membership? Think of what would happen if we failed to train new Christians how to live for God. The next generation of Christians would not know what to do in God s service. The work of the Lord s churches would be greatly hindered. We must teach God s Word to each generation of believers. In the last part of the Great Commission, Jesus spoke words of direction. He said, Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you (Matt. 28:20). The word observe means to watch or observe attentively. The idea behind it was to put into practice what we have learned. Jesus told His followers it was not enough simply to know certain things. They needed to practice the principles of godly living. They were to begin living by these principles. Too many Christians have treated New Testament churches with a filling station mentality. They come to church and simply want to be filled up. They do not want to do anything themselves. They only want the fun and fellowship of church, but none of the responsibilities. This was not what Jesus meant in His statements to the early church. They were to learn and put into practice the truth of God s Word. A true church is an organization of service. Are you and your church doing what the Lord wants? You have a definite purpose. God has determined exactly what you should be doing. You should become exactly what He wants. Let us fulfill our purpose. 13

14 LESSON 4, September 23, 2001 The Nature of the Church LESSON AIM The student will define a New Testament church as a called out assembly of scripturally baptized believers who are covenanted together to carry out the Great Commission of Christ. SCRIPTURES TO READ Text: Acts 2: Background Scripture: Acts 1:12-14; 2:1; 4:32; 8:1; 15:41; Romans 16:1, 5, 16, 23; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 16:1, 19; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Galatians 1:2; Ephesians 5:21-33; Philippians 1:1; 4:15; Colossians 4:15, 16; 1 Thessalonians 1:1, 2; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; Revelation 1:4, 11, 20; 2:1 3:22. Devotional Reading: In Every Church, Acts 14: Introduction One of the greatest controversies which arises between conservative Baptist churches and basically the rest of so-called Christianity rests in the issue of the nature of the church. Most of the false religions in Christianity accept the concept of the universal nature of the church. Conservative Baptists adhere to the belief Jesus established a church with a local, not universal nature. This causes great conflict between these different groups. Is the nature of the church really an important idea? Is the nature of the church really a matter upon which to argue and maybe break fellowship? These and other questions will be answered in the course of this lesson. 1. What Is a Church? The lesson Text gives a wonderful definition of what a church is. A scriptural, New Testament church is a called out assembly 14

15 of scripturally baptized believers who are covenanted together to carry out the Great Commission of Christ. This definition is not based on the ideas of man, but on the words of God. We will briefly discuss the various parts of this definition. A church is a called out assembly. The church was established by Jesus Christ during His personal, earthly ministry. The church did not simply happen into existence. Jesus Himself walked along the shores of the Sea of Galilee and began His church by calling out certain men to go with Him. (See Mark 1:16-20.) These four men formed the nucleus of His church. They would not be all the members. They only served as a beginning. (For further information on the origin of the church and the calling out of the disciples, refer to Lesson 1.) A church is made up of scripturally baptized believers. Because the Lord established His church, He had the right to determine the qualifications for membership. As He prepared to ascend to the Father, Jesus gave instructions to His church. Those instructions gave the proper order for church membership. The gospel was to be preached so people could be saved. When a person was saved, he was to be baptized and received into the fellowship of a church. Did the early church follow that order? The lesson Text confirms it did. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls (Acts 2:41). The church is composed of scripturally baptized believers. A church has a purpose to carry out the Great Commission of Christ. The Lord always had a purpose for His works. When He established His church, He gave it a purpose. The reason for existence was Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). The church did not have the right to go where it wanted and preach what it felt. The members were to go to every person in the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Scriptural churches today still have the same purpose. They have the responsibility to carry out the Great Commission. The definition given for a church is not a matter of personal preference. Too many people think they can pick and choose what they want to believe. That is like a ship out on the sea. It can be tossed around by the winds. Paul warned about this. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried 15

16 about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive (Eph. 4:14). Do not be misled by those teaching doctrines foreign to the Bible. Let the Word of God determine what you believe. The Bible clearly teaches this definition of a church. 2. Is the Church Ever Universal? The biggest controversy concerning the meaning of a church is whether it is local or universal. One denomination has decided the church is both. They proclaim the dual nature of the church. This is a case where it is either/or. The church cannot be both local and universal. They are opposites. So we must ask the question, Is the church ever universal? The word church used in the New Testament determines the nature of the church. It is translated from the Greek word ekklesia and means a called out assembly. Think of what that definition means. A church is an assembly. An assembly happens when people gather in a single location. The definition of assemble is to collect into one place or group (Merriam Webster s School Dictionary). How can a church be universal when not every saint will be gathered into a single location? It cannot. The word used for church demands a local nature of the church. The New Testament gives examples of churches in its pages. Paul wrote to many different churches and identified them as churches. When he was closing the letter to the Romans, he mentioned several different, separate churches by location names. When writing the book of Galatians, he said there were churches (more than one) in the region of Galatia. These various churches were not considered to be portions of the one universal church. They were separate and complete churches. The Lord agreed with Paul s preaching. When the book of Revelation was given, Jesus instructed John to write His letters to the seven churches of Asia. These were separate and distinct churches. They did not have to combine to become the church. Each one was a church. The church in the New Testament was local in nature. Much more information could be given to show how the Lord established and propagated local churches. The information given 16

17 should be enough to convince the open mind of the kind of church Jesus set forth. It was not a universal church. His churches are always local in nature. 3. Why Are So Many Rejecting This Belief? Satan has been diligent in his attacks against scriptural churches. The reasons he hates New Testament churches are probably unnumbered. We will only look at two. Satan hates true churches because they are the body of Christ. When Paul was actively persecuting the church, Jesus struck him down with a bright light. Jesus said, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (Acts 9:4). Notice Jesus did not say that Paul was persecuting His church. Persecution directed toward the Lord s churches was persecution directed toward Him. Jesus identifies closely with His body, the church. Satan hates Jesus, and because of this he hates the Lord s churches. Satan hates true churches because they are taking the gospel to a lost and dying world. Satan wants everyone to go to hell. Every person who is saved escapes from that place of torment. Satan does not want to lose one person. He hates it when we carry out our purpose. Do you want to cause Satan grief? Tell someone about Jesus. He hates that. Let us make Satan as unhappy as possible. Let us help people escape from the fires of hell. After all, that is our work. Why not do what we are supposed to do? Satan wants to have ultimate victory over Jesus. He seeks to accomplish this today by attacking the Lord s churches. One way he does this is to lessen our stability in the faith. If he can shake us just a little, he has found a lever to use. A person once said, Give me a lever long enough and a place to put it and I will move the world. Satan wants to move us away from Jesus. He will begin in one area and will not be content. Let us not give Satan a place for his lever. Let us stand for the Lord and His scriptural, New Testament churches. 17

18 LESSON 5, September 30, 2001 The Membership of the Church LESSON AIM The student will list the qualifications for church membership in a New Testament church and discuss the responsibilities of a church member. SCRIPTURES TO READ Text: 1 Peter 2:5. Background Scripture: John 13:35; Acts 2:41-47; 20:28; Romans 12:3-21; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 2:19-22; 4:16; 5:30; Philippians 2:3, 4; 1 John 2:19; 4:11. Devotional Reading: A Few Names, Revelation 3:4. Introduction The past several lessons have dealt with what the church is and why it exists. We found a church to be a local, visible assembly of scripturally baptized believers covenanted together to carry out the Great Commission. This definition shows what a church is and what it should be doing in the world. The purpose of this lesson is to show two things. First, we will learn how a person might become a member of a church. Second, after a person is a member of a church, he can begin learning what his responsibilities are. This will be the goal of this lesson. 1. How To Become a Church Member When Jesus established His church, He set the rules concerning membership. He has the right to determine who can and cannot become members. So how can a person become a member of a church? 18

19 The primary qualification is being a child of God. No one can properly consider himself a member of a church unless he has been saved. How will this take place? First, a lost person must realize his condition. Too many people in the world think they are good people. By the standards of the world, they might be. But the standard set by God is not based on the sinfulness of man. It is based on the sinless life of Jesus Christ. If we do not match His sinless perfection, we are sinners and in need of salvation. The Bible clearly teaches that all people born into the world are sinners (Rom. 3:23; Gal. 3:22). Because of the natural sinfulness of mankind, all people need to be saved. Only when a person realizes he is a sinner and is helpless to change his natural state can he come to Jesus. Only Jesus has the power to save. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). We must be willing to trust in Jesus. This is not just believing He exists. This is trusting Him to have the power and willingness to save (Heb. 11:6). When a person realizes his sinfulness and trusts in Jesus to save him, he is granted eternal life. This is the first step in church membership. While salvation is the first step, it is not the only requirement to become a member of a church. Peter preached a dynamic sermon on the day of Pentecost. He preached about the sacrifice of Christ and the sinfulness of man. As a result of this great message, thousands stood before Peter and asked what they should do. They realized their sinfulness and knew they stood condemned before God. Peter gave them two things to do. They should repent and be baptized. Repentance brought a forgiveness of sins. This was their call to salvation. They were to follow salvation with baptism. This baptism was not to give or complete salvation. They already had eternal life. There was another purpose to this act. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls (Acts 2:41). Salvation came first. Then followed baptism. After they were baptized, they were added to the church. The pattern for becoming a church member is clear and simple. Jesus set the requirements, and we must be willing to follow His commands. No unsaved person is a true member of a church. He might have his name on the roll, but he is not a true 19

20 member. Once a person is saved, he should follow in baptism. After baptism he is received as a member of a church. This is God s pattern and we must follow it. 2. What To Do as a Church Member The previous section discussed how a person can become a member of a church. This is God s pattern, and we cannot change it. Now we should realize our responsibilities as a church member. What are we to do for Jesus? There are many works we can accomplish through the church of our membership. A problem that exists in many churches is the misconception of the importance of a few jobs. Some people look at certain positions in the church as the desirable jobs. These are the jobs with high visibility. Some people think these are the important jobs because they are the positions everyone can see. These people get the highest praise. The problem with this is that it disagrees with the Word of God. Paul described the church as the body of Christ. Within the physical body are many different parts. We have hands, feet, eyes, ears and many vital internal organs. What part of the body gets the most attention? Those external parts are considered extremely important to people. Without hands, what could we do? Without feet where could we go? Without eyes what could we see? While these are good and desirable functions, are they really vital to the operation of the body? If you have strong hands and healthy feet, yet your heart fails, what good are the hands and feet? There are some parts that are hidden; yet, they contain a greater importance than the visible parts. Paul took this illustration and applied it to the church body. Our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness (1 Cor. 12:23). Paul was teaching about the importance of all works in the church. Never be guilty of saying one office is better than another. All are important in the service of the Lord. Though a certain work might not seem too glamorous, it is as vital to the overall operation of the church as any other work. All are important to the Lord. Remember how important your work is in the church. This is not supposed to cause us to get puffed up in pride. It should humble us to realize we are privileged to serve the King of kings and Lord of lords in any function at all. May we always serve the LORD with gladness (Psalm 100:2). 20

21 LESSON 6, October 7, 2001 The Authority of the Church LESSON AIM The student will explain that a church is sovereign under God to evangelize, administer the ordinances, discipline its members and govern itself. SCRIPTURES TO READ Text: Matthew 16:19. Background Scripture: Matthew 16:18; 18:18, 19; 28:18-20; John 20:19-23; Acts 1:8, 15-26; 2:28-42; 1 Corinthians 5:12, 13; Revelation 1:11, 20; 2:5. Devotional Reading: The Church at Antioch, Acts 13:1-4. Introduction The common belief among many religions is that of ecclesiastical authority. By this they mean the church is not the final authority on earth. Many believe the church is little more than a cog in denominational machinery. The people at headquarters determine the doctrinal stance of the denomination and hence of the churches. A local church has little authority to choose its own path. Is this the doctrinal stance of scriptural Baptists? The Doctrinal Statement of the American Baptist Association shows this group does not accept the idea of denominational authority. We believe that all associations, fellowships, and committees are, and properly should be, servants of, and under control of the churches (Number 20). Another of these statements shows that each church is an independent, self-governing body, and no other ecclesiastical body may exercise authority over it (Number 17). As we go through the study of this subject, we must be careful to let the Bible speak for itself. Too many people want to base their doctrinal faith on personal wishes or preconceived 21

22 ideas. If these are the basis for our doctrinal faith, then it is on shaky ground. We are like some people Paul described. He warned them to be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive (Eph. 4:14). We must grow up and be adults in Christ also. 1. The Authority of the Church What is the source of authority for churches? Mere existence cannot be enough to justify a church s actions. There must be authority from somewhere. The authority for a church to work in the world comes from the Lord Himself. During His earthly, personal ministry, Jesus was there to instruct His church on what it should do. When it needed to feed the multitudes, Jesus told its members what to do. When they needed to go to the surrounding villages preaching the gospel, Jesus told them what to do. During the earthly ministry of Jesus, He was the source of authority for the church. When the Lord was preparing to ascend to the Father, He left specific instructions with His church. Those instructions began with a statement of power or authority. Jesus said, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth (Matt. 28:18). The word power means authority, jurisdiction, power or right. In essence Jesus was claiming that He had authority over all creation. No natural law was written apart from His authority. How does His possession of authority relate to the church? Since Jesus has ultimate authority, He also has the right to delegate power. When He gave the commission to the church, He was sending it out as His ambassador or emissary. The power did not come because the church existed, but from the One with all authority. Jesus Christ delegated power to the church so it would be able to do His work. This is like a country sending ambassadors to foreign countries. Those ambassadors do not have the legal right to make treaties. They can only do what they are authorized to do. The authority for their office lies in the country, not the person. Jesus sent the church out with a special responsibility. It does not have the right to change its work or its belief structure. It can only fulfill what it was authorized to do. That authority comes from Him. 22

23 The church does not have authority because it exists. It has authority because Jesus called His church out and gave it instructions. The authority is His, not an individual s. We can only do what He wants accomplished. 2. The Actions of the Church Since churches have been delegated authority to serve, what responsibilities do they have? Can churches do anything they want and still be fulfilling the work of the Lord? Churches have been given specific directions. Churches are to evangelize. When the Lord gave authority to His churches, He told them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). The initial and primary work of churches is to take the story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world (1 Cor. 15:1-4). To do less is to fail in His service. In fact, the other responsibilities churches have revolve around this primary work. Why is this work so important? Unless churches and their members reach out to the world, people will die and go to hell. We must do our work. Churches are to administer the ordinances. The second part of the Great Commission is to baptize those who are saved (Matt. 28:19). This baptism is prerequisite for a person to become a member of the church. Churches should also observe the Lord s Supper. This is a testimony of the suffering of Christ on the cross. This suffering and shedding of blood bought our salvation. (These two ordinances will be the focus of Lesson 7.) Churches are to conduct their own business. After the ascension of the Lord, the church had to conduct its own business. The first business item it covered was the selection of a new apostle. This was done when Matthias was elected (Acts 1:15-26). As time went on, the church did other things. It elected deacons (Acts 6:1-7). It did mission work (Acts 13:1-3). The church was careful to conduct its own business. The authority behind church work is Jesus. He called out His congregations and expects them to do His work. The authority is not ours, but His. We must be careful to do what He wants. If it conflicts with what we want, we should remember the real authority behind our church. We must rely on Him. 23

24 LESSON 7, October 14, 2001 The Ordinances of the Church LESSON AIM The student will list the two church ordinances and explain their purposes. SCRIPTURES TO READ Text: 1 Corinthians 11:2. Background Scripture: Matthew 3:5-8, 13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19; Acts 2:41, 42; 8:35-39; 1 Corinthians 11: Devotional Reading: It Behooved Christ To Suffer, Luke 24:46, 47. Introduction You are in a church service. At the front of the sanctuary, the pastor and someone else enters an opening. The pastor puts the person underwater and brings him up. What has taken place? You are in another church service. The pastor asks the members of the church to stand and those members are given a little piece of unleavened bread and a tiny glass of fruit of the vine. What has taken place? We assume everyone knows what took place in these scenarios, and maybe most people do. But some people have little idea of what they have just witnessed. They may have participated in such services many times, but they still may not know what the services are all about. The ordinances are important parts of the testimony of a church. In the lesson Text, Paul commended the church at Corinth because it was participating in the ordinances. Dr. Albert Garner indicates the word ordinance means something repeatedly practiced. The idea is of a people willing to participate in these ordinances on a regular basis. Certainly the early church practiced the baptism of new converts to Christianity. The book of Acts is full of examples of those who were saved 24

25 then and were baptized. Since Paul wrote to the church at Corinth and discussed the matter of the Lord s Supper, we can assume he made it a practice to teach new churches about this ordinance as well. The early churches practiced the ordinances of baptism and the Lord s Supper. The challenge before us is to see what the two church ordinances really mean. The purpose of this lesson is to remind us of the truth concerning baptism and the Lord s Supper. Knowing these ordinances and why they are important should encourage us to follow through in their observance on regular occasions. 1. Their Pictures Both of the church ordinances paint important and beautiful pictures of the work of Christ. Their focus is only slightly different. The picture in baptism. The first ordinance a person will personally experience is baptism. What meaning does this ordinance have? Baptism primarily testifies of the gospel message. The candidate for baptism is lowered beneath the water and then raised from his watery grave. The picture is clear. This paints a picture of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We can almost see Christ dying for our sins, being placed in the borrowed tomb and then being raised from death. What a wonderful picture is shown! When a person submits to baptism, he is testifying of his trust in Jesus Christ. A second picture is shown by baptism. This picture is of what the believer s life is to be. He should die to sin, have those sins buried and be raised to newness of life. Notice these words of Paul, Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4). This is a great testimony of what our lives should be. We should crucify the old man (put him to death), bury the old passions and be raised to a new kind of life. This new life is not like the old but is totally new. It is to be different. As long as we hold to the old, we will not be living the way Jesus wants. We must be raised to walk in newness of life. This will be a life of service. The picture in the Lord s Supper. The ordinance of the Lord s Supper is equally pictorial. In participating in this ordinance, a New Testament church will assemble two elements 25

26 unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine. Each has an important role. The unleavened bread being broken is a picture of the sinless life of Christ being sacrificed for us. Jesus never committed a sin. He was completely perfect without spot or blemish. Yet this sinless Son of God gave Himself to die on the cross for our sins. He suffered greatly that we might have forgiveness of sins. The fruit of the vine is a picture of the blood shed to pay the price of our redemption. The Scriptures tell us, without shedding of blood is no remission (Heb. 9:22). Had Jesus not shed His blood on the cross, we would have no way to be saved. His sacrifice provided for our salvation. Both of these ordinances picture the great sacrifice of Christ. He did not have to die to become the Son of God. He did not have to be sacrificed for His own sins, for He had none. All of that was done for our benefit. Jesus was sacrificed on the cross to pay the price for our sins. He died for us. Every time we participate in the observance of these ordinances, we are testifying of His sacrifice for us. 2. Their Place A popular misconception in the world today is that these ordinances are Christian ordinances. This means they were given to any believer, and any believer can observe them wherever and whenever he chooses. Are they Christian ordinances or church ordinances? The instructions given to observe the ordinances were not given just to anyone. The authority was given to New Testament churches. The command to baptize was given when Jesus was ascending to the Father. It was not a work for the individual, but for the Lord s church. This was clearly shown when the Holy Spirit called on the church at Antioch to send out missionaries with authority (Acts 13:1-3). If baptism were to be administered by any believer, then that was unnecessary. True churches have Heaven s authority to baptize. The Lord s Supper is also a church ordinance. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth instructing it how to observe the ordinance. He said the Lord s Supper was to be observed when ye come together in the church (1 Cor. 11:18). This was not something simply anyone can participate in. It is for the Lord s churches alone. These two ordinances are not for any and everybody. They are church ordinances. Only His church has authority to baptize. 26