Importance of the Church. By Robert C. Archer

Transcription

1 Importance of the Church By Robert C. Archer

2 Why the church is important Because of WHAT IT IS Because of WHAT IT COST Because of WHAT IS IN IT

3 Church is important because of WHAT IT IS The eternal purpose of God Ephesians 3:10 (NKJV) to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, Ephesians 3:11 (NKJV) according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord

4 Church important because of WHAT IT IS The exemplification of God s wisdom Ephesians 3:10 (NKJV) to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places

5 Church is important because of WHAT IT IS The Body of Christ Colossians 1:24 (NKJV) I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, Ephesians 1:22-23 (NKJV) 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.

6 Church is important because of WHAT IT IS The family of God 1 Timothy 3:15 (NKJV) but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

7 Church is important because of WHAT IT IS The kingdom of Christ Matthew 16:18-19 (NKJV) And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

8 Church is important because of WHAT IT IS The fullness of Christ Ephesians 1:23 (NKJV) which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. This statement is equivalent to saying that the church is the fullness of Christ. It means that to be in Christ is to be in the church, or that to be in the church is to be in Christ. It means that whatever is available in Christ is not available outside the church that belongs to Christ.

9 The church is important because of WHAT IT COST

10 Church is important because of WHAT IT COST We were bought with a price 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV) Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

11 Church is important because of WHAT IT COST The price was the blood of Jesus Acts 20:28 (NKJV) Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

12 The church is important because of WHAT IS IN IT

13 Church is important because of WHAT IS IN IT Reconciliation Isaiah 59:1-2 (NKJV) Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. Ephesians 2:16 (NKJV) and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

14 Church is important because of WHAT IS IN IT Salvation (Acts 2:47; Eph. 5:23) Saved added to the church Acts 2:47 (NKJV) praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. He will save the church Ephesians 5:23 (NKJV) For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

15 Church is important because of WHAT IS IN IT Redemption (Rom. 3:24) Romans 3:24 (NKJV) being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

16 Church is important because of WHAT IS IN IT All spiritual blessings Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, (Eph. 1:3)

17 Conclusion You can be a member of the Lord s church! How? By doing what they did in Acts 2!