THE CHURCH About e auor... Tom and his wife of 37 years, Jane, have two children, Tom Bright, Jr. of Olae and Michelle Lyons of Muskogee, Oklahoma. Tom is a graduate of e Elk City School of Preaching in Elk City, Oklahoma. He has done local work in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana and Missouri. He has conducted meetings in 9 states and has participated in lectureships in 8 states. Tom has been an instructor in e Elk City School of Preaching, Owasso School of Preaching and Houston College of e Bible. He is a past director of e West Plains School of Biblical Studies. He has done radio work in Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri. He debated Richard Jackson of e United Pentecostal Church in 1994 on e subject of miracles and Bob Ross of e Baptist Church in 1995 on e subject of Mechanical Instruments of Music in Worship. He and his wife now live in Dyersburg, Tennessee where he preaches and is director of e Online Academy of Biblical Studies. Introduction Anytime e word church is mentioned in a group of people, it is distinctly possible ere will be as many different ideas about Church as ere are people. Clearly e world does not have a proper understanding of e word Church. In fact, many people look upon e Church as noing more an a social club, a hobby, a place to go when ere is nowhere else to go, or an institution at exists merely for e purpose of helping ose who will not work. However, e Bible nowhere gives is picture of e Church. The tru is, inspiration presents e Church as being of Divine origin. The Bible teaches e Church has a heavenly mission and a righteous purpose. Paul makes a sobering statement in Ephesians 3:20-21 when he wrote, Now unto him at is able to do exceeding abundantly above all at we ask or ink, according to e power at worke in us, Unto him be glory in e church by Christ Jesus roughout all ages, world wiout end. Amen. Glory is directed toward e Great I Am in e Church by Christ Jesus. Does Deity have e same idea of e Church as man does? Certainly not! Undoubtedly Paul s oughts were not based upon how historians see e Church, as eologians view it, modernists consider it, agnosticism sees it, denominationalism depicts it, or liberalism inks of it. There is no doubt, inspiration s view of e Church does not agree wi e world s concept. God s view of it is distinctly different an man s idea. They are as far removed for each oer as e east is from e west. The Church Is The Called Out Our Lord first used e word Church in response to Peter s confession at He was e Christ. He said, Blessed art ou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood ha not revealed it unto ee, but my Faer which is in heaven. And I say also unto ee, That ou art Peter, and upon is rock I will build my church; and e gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matew 16:17-18). This word is found an additional one hundred and fourteen times in e New Testament. Interestingly enough, not one time is it ever used in e sense of a hobby, a social club, an oasis of recreation or just some Ready To Give An Answer The 18 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 1 not to be sold. For information contact e 39 Street Church of Christ - 15331 E. 39 Street, Independence, Missouri 64055
place to go. The word translated Church denotes e idea of called out. The Church is comprised of ose who have been called out of e world by e gospel. The apostle Paul wrote, Who gave himself for our sins, at he might deliver us from is present evil world, according to e will of God and our Faer (Galatians 1:4). Peter adds, But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; at ye should shew for e praises of him who ha called you out of darkness into his marvellous light (1 Peter 2:9). The Lord informed Paul at his mission was To open eir eyes, and to turn em from darkness to light, and from e power of Satan unto God, at ey may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among em which are sanctified by fai at is in me (Acts 26:18). However, even ough we are called out of is present evil world, we are not left in limbo. We are called unto a specific life. In Ephesians 4:1, we read I erefore, e prisoner of e Lord, beseech you at ye walk wory of e vocation wherewi ye are called. The words here translated vocation and were called are from e same root word. Thus, we are to walk wory (in a manner which befits) of at calling. This calling is by e gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14), and we are called into His kingdom and glory (1 Thessalonians 2:12). It is a holy calling (2 Timoy 1:9; 1 Corinians 1:2), by which He calls us into fellowship wi Him (1 Corinians 1:9). We are called into e grace of Christ (Galatians 1:6), unto liberty (Galatians 5:13), in one hope (Ephesians 4:4), in one body (Col. 3:15), unto holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:7; 1 Peter 1:15-16), a new man (Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24), and purity (1 Timoy 5:22; 2 Timoy 2:22). This is what Paul was alluding to when he wrote, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old ings are passed away; behold, all ings are become new (2 Corinians 5:17). When one walks wory of at Divine calling, he presents to e world a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such ing; but at it should be holy and wiout blemish (Ephesians 5:27). This, en, is e called out feature of e Church. The Church Is e Body of Christ Inspired men taught at e Church was e body of Christ. Paul wrote, And ha put all ings under his feet, and gave him to be e head over all ings to e church, Which is his body, e fulness of him at fille all in all (Ephesians 1:22-23). In very clear and strong terms, Paul tells us e e church...is his body. For one to deny is simple tru is to deny a clear passage of Scripture. This body is spiritual in nature, wi Christ as its head. Paul adds in Colossians 1:24, Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up at which is behind of e afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is e church. If we link is to e apostle s statement in Colossians 1:18, ere can be no doubt e Church is His body. Here Paul wrote, And he is e head of e body, e church: who is e beginning, e firstborn from e dead; at in all ings he might have e preeminence. The Church is e only institution rough which God receives glory. Noing man-made can attain to Its glory, majesty, or pre-eminence. Ready To Give An Answer The 18 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 2 not to be sold. For information contact e 39 Street Church of Christ - 15331 E. 39 Street, Independence, Missouri 64055
The Church Is Blood-bought The purchase price of e New Testament Church was e blood of Christ. In Acts 20:28, Paul told e Ephesian elders, Take heed erefore unto yourselves, and to all e flock, over e which e Holy Ghost ha made you overseers, to feed e church of God, which he ha purchased wi his own blood. Never before is time or after is time has ere ever been such an instance when e cost was so high! It is amazing some view is blood-bought institution wi such indifference. Anying which cost e only begotten Son of God His blood should be treated wi respect and viewed wi reverence and awe. No oer institution, Divine or man-made, can make is claim. For instance, e home is a Divine institution, but Christ did not give His blood to purchase e home. Likewise, civil government is of Divine origin, but it did not cost Christ His blood. From heaven s rone, e Great I AM views e Church as someing special and precious. Woe to e man who views e bloodbought body of Christ as trivial, unimportant, and non-essential. The Church is blood-bought in e sense it is comprised of people who have been redeemed by e blood of Christ. Peter wrote, Forasmuch as ye know at ye were not redeemed wi corruptible ings, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your faers; But wi e precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb wiout blemish and wiout spot (1 Peter 1:18-19). When one connects is passage wi Romans 5:9, e results are impressive. Here, Paul wrote Much more en, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wra rough him. Notice at redemption and justification are by e blood of Christ. Let us now link ese two passages to Acts 20:28 in which Paul said, Take heed erefore unto yourselves, and to all e flock, over e which e Holy Ghost ha made you overseers, to feed e church of God, which he ha purchased wi his own blood. Herein is revealed an important aspect of e Church many fail to understand. Notice e following: (1) The Church was purchased by Christ s blood, (2) We are redeemed and, (3) justified by His blood. Is ere any connection? Surely no one would argue at Christ purchased e Church wi His blood, at He redeems and justifies man by at same blood, yet ere is no connection at all! Wiout doubt ere is a connection in e ree ideas just presented. When one is redeemed by e blood of Christ, he is also justified by His blood; when one is redeemed and justified, he is also purchased by e precious blood of Christ. It is at at moment is person is added by e Lord to e Church (Acts 2:47). What is is purchase price and e means by which we are redeemed and justified? The blood of Christ! The Church Is e Bride of Christ The apostle Paul clearly teaches is in 2 Corinians 11:2. He writes, For I am jealous over you wi godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, at I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. No one can deny e clear implications of is passage. This same writer furer adds to is ought. In writing to e Roman Christians relative to e fact ey were not under e law (see Romans 7:1-3), he made is astounding statement, Wherefore, my breren, ye also are become dead to e law by e body of Christ; at ye should be married to anoer, even to him who is raised from e dead, at we should bring for fruit unto Ready To Give An Answer The 18 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 3 not to be sold. For information contact e 39 Street Church of Christ - 15331 E. 39 Street, Independence, Missouri 64055
God (Romans 7:4). Notice Paul mentions e idea of bringing for fruit unto God. Can any who are not married to Christ bring for e fruit here mentioned? Surely not! God intended for marriage to be e closest relationship man and woman would enjoy in is life. He said in e long ago, and ey shall be one flesh (Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:31). It is only when man recognizes God s plan, design, and purpose for marriage, can he truly appreciate e bride of Christ. The Church Is e Family of God In Ephesians 2:19, Paul wrote Now erefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens wi e saints, and of e household of God. The household of God clearly shows e Church is God s family (see also Ephesians 2:19). Even ough e Faer loves all men, it is e Church at sustains a family relationship to Him. He is e Faer (2 Corinians 6:17-18) of ose who comprise e Church. They have been adopted (Galatians 4:4-7); us ey are His children (1 John 3:1), and ey are heirs (Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29; 4:7; Titus 3:7) of e promises He has given. Truly we join wi John in his exclamation, Behold, what manner of love e Faer ha bestowed upon us, at we should be called e sons of God: erefore e world knowe us not, because it knew him not (1 John 3:1). No oer institution can claim to be The Family of God. No wonder Paul wrote Unto him be glory in e church by Christ Jesus roughout all ages, world wiout end. Amen (Ephesians 3:21). The Church Is e Temple of God Man has always erected magnificent edifices in honor of eir deities. Alough God instituted e Tabernacle, David wanted someing greater (as man sees it) an a tent. Solomon, David s son, erected a majestic structure at was truly an elegant edifice. In e time of Christ, Herod had busied himself at least forty-six years (John 2:20) in e construction of an elaborate temple for e Jews. However, some forty years later, is magnificent structure was leveled by e Romans. It seems at man does not understand ese huge caedrals and mosques do not impress e Faer. On Mars hill in e city of Aens, e apostle Paul proclaimed e God which he served dwelle not in temples made wi hands (Acts 17:24). The very essence of Deity calls for someing much more noble and grand en mere sticks and stones, mortar, timbers, jewels, or gold and silver. He dwells in His temple, e Church. Paul said, Now erefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens wi e saints, and of e household of God; And are built upon e foundation of e apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being e chief corner stone; In whom all e building fitly framed togeer growe unto an holy temple in e Lord (Ephesians 2:19-22). In is context, Paul establishes at God reconciled bo Jew and Gentile unto God in one body Ready To Give An Answer The 18 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 4 not to be sold. For information contact e 39 Street Church of Christ - 15331 E. 39 Street, Independence, Missouri 64055
(Ephesians 2:16). This body is e Church (Ephesians 1:22-23), of which ere is only one (Ephesians 4:4). It is is one body which, composed of Jew and Gentile, growe unto an holy temple in e Lord (Ephesians 3:21). In 1 Corinians 3:16-17, we find ese words, Know ye not at ye are e temple of God, and at e Spirit of God dwelle in you? If any man defile e temple of God, him shall God destroy; for e temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. This should forever cause sensible men to stop and ponder e greatness of God s scheme of redemption, which necessarily includes e Church. God had determined to offer man a way whereby he could be saved. When man reaches at justification rough Christ by obedience to e Divine will, he is added to is Church, which is e temple of God. Realizing e Church is e temple of God, we ask, as did Peter, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness (2 Peter 3:11). The temple of God can be noing less at pure and undefiled. Paul asked, And what agreement ha e temple of God wi idols? for ye are e temple of e living God; as God ha said, I will dwell in em, and walk in em; and I will be eir God, and ey shall be my people. (2 Corinians 6:16). Wiout doubt, God expects His temple, e Church, to be wiout spot, or wrinkle, or any such ing; but at it should be holy and wiout blemish (Ephesians 5:27). The Church and God s Eternal Purpose Paul wrote one of e most impressive statements ever penned about e Church. In Ephesians 3:10-11 we read, To e intent at now unto e principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by e church e manifold wisdom of God, According to e eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: Here, an inspired apostle clearly affirms e Church reveals God s manifold wisdom and is was according to God s eternal purpose in Christ Jesus. Thus, from e beginning, God determined at His great wisdom in saving man would be made known rough e Church. The Church is composed of all of e saved (Acts 2:47). Every single person who has been saved by e blood of Christ since e day of Pentecost (Acts 2) has been added to e Church by e Lord. There are no exceptions to is! Man does not vote to make his fellow man a member of e Church. Jesus adds to e Church ose who obey from e heart at form of doctrine and is en made free from sin (Romans 6:17-18). All people come to Him in exactly e same way. The richest man alive must come to Him in e same way e poorest man in e world comes to him, in obedience to e gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16). The greatest politician comes to God in e same manner as e lowliest of e low. God will accept e kings of e world, but ey have no advantage over e pauper. Regardless of one s background, he comes to e salvation at is in Christ exactly like everyone else. God plays no favorites in justifying man. It is in is manner e Church reveals God s eternal purpose in Christ. Whosoever will can come, but he must come upon ose conditions God has set for in e gospel of Christ. Regardless of wheer one is rich or poor, black or white, red or yellow, educated or uneducated, king or pauper, high or low on e social ladder, employer or employee, each comes to God in precisely e same way! Ready To Give An Answer The 18 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 5 not to be sold. For information contact e 39 Street Church of Christ - 15331 E. 39 Street, Independence, Missouri 64055
This is how e Church reveals e manifold wisdom of God (Ephesians 3:10). No longer is acceptance wi God conditioned on one being able to trace his lineage to Abraham. God no longer looks upon one s ancestry, but upon e heart at is bowed in honor, adoration, reverence, awe, and humble obedience to e gospel of Christ. In closing, we ask is very important question: Are you a member of e New Testament Church at is revealed upon e pages of inspiration? Are you satisfied wi an attempt to trace your church back several generations? Why not simply go to e New Testament and do what first century Christians did at was acceptable to God. Why not simply teach what ey taught wi God s approval, do what ey did wi God s endorsement, and worship as ey worshiped? If ey did or taught someing en wi God s approval, why can we not do e same ing? What do you ink of e Church? The importance of is question should never be under estimated. Ready To Give An Answer The 18 Annual Mid-West Lectures Page 6 not to be sold. For information contact e 39 Street Church of Christ - 15331 E. 39 Street, Independence, Missouri 64055