SERIES: Biblical Church Distinctives SUBJECT: Which Church Polity Is Biblical READING: Act 1:13-26 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. (14) These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. (15) And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) (16) Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. (17) For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. (18) Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. (19) And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. (20) For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. (21) Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, (22) Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. (23) And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. (24) And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, (25) That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. (26) And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. 1
Act 6:1-6 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. (2) Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. (3) Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. (4) But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. (5) And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: (6) Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. Introduction: Two week ago I preached the first of a series of sermons that I trust will help you understand what the Body of Christ is Biblically and how its earthly manifestation in local visible churches is governed from the Biblical perspective. I noted several things; 1. The Body of Christ refers to all saved people and has no membership per se but one becomes a part of the Body of Christ when he or she receives Christ as Savior; 1Co 12:13-14 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (14) For the body is not one member, but many. 2. The body of Christ is not generally referred by the word church in its normal and most frequent used way; 2
The Body of Christ is called the Church when it is being looked at in a future sense; Heb 12:22-23 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, (23) To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, This is what we can call the Church or the Assembly in prospect which will one day be assembled in heaven but it is not yet fully assembled. We also learned that the key to understanding the Church is to understand the Greek word "ecclesia" which our KJB translates as Church. 1. This Greek word appears in the New Testament approximately 115 times. 2. Every Biblical Local Church is a microcosm of the Body of Christ! 3. Every Biblical Local Church has one head and that head is Christ. 4. Every Biblical Local Church has One Shepherd which is Jesus Christ; 5. Every Pastor or Bishop which is in my mind is the correct reference for the job that God has called me to do as the Under Shepherd! The Pastor of the Church not only teaches and preaches but he also oversees the overall ministry of the Church. 6. The clearest references to what the church in the Bible is can be found in the book of the Revelation where 3
seven separate local churches (called out assemblies of baptized born again believers) are addresses by Christ through seven distinct letters addressing the problems or lack thereof in each church. 7. All local churches are called out bodies of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ; baptized in obedience to Christ and assembled to carry out the commission of Christ in a particular area or city; Mat 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. I. First, Christ is the head of each and every local church and its supreme authority. Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. II. III. Second, the local church is to be autonomous, free from any external authority or control, with the right of selfgovernment and freedom from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations (Titus 1:5). Third, the church is to be governed by spiritual leadership consisting of two main offices Pastors (Bishops) and deacons. 1. The New Testament refers several times to elders who served in the role of church leadership. 2. Titus gives us insight into the role of Elder and Bishop Every Bishop is an Elder but not ever Elder is a Bishop. 4
IV. The other office in the biblical local church is that of deacon, a. The Office of Deacon Was Created for the Purpose of Handling the Benevolence Ministry. b. The Biblical account is quite clear on the founding of the deaconship and nowhere does Scripture repeal the original purpose: Act 6:1-3 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. (2) Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. (3) Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. c. The Office of Deacon Was Established to Free the Apostles (who functioned as the first pastors) to Pray and to Prepare to Minister the Word i. The New Testament Deacons Were Selected for Their Spiritual Qualifications Acts 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, ii. Because of the qualities of their selection The Deacons Are Capable of Serving the Lord in other Spiritual Ways. V. Now concerning polity; Church Polity (government) is the means through which Christ s church on earth is to be organized and managed. 5
a. Dr. Adrian Rogers who stated that the church is to be pastor-led, deacon-served, committee-operated, and congregationally-affirmed. b. There is no way this biblical pattern of Church polity can be exercised without Local Church Membership. Church Membership is like some other things the Bible teaches 1. When you ask the question; Is church membership Biblical? The answer is not as simple as answering how is a person saved? To which we can cite Joh 3:5-6 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. And elaborating more on it we could add; Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast. 2. The reason is that there is not a book, chapter, and verse or verses we can cite! 3. How then can we arrive at The Definition of Local Church Membership? a. There must be a proper candidate; one must first be saved at which time he becomes a member (a part of the body of Christ) (1 Cor. 12:13). Because he is united to Christ and the other members of the body in this way, he is therefore qualified to become member of a local expression of that body. b. To become a member of a church is to formally commit oneself to an identifiable, visible, local 6
body of believers who have joined together for specific, divinely ordained purposes. i. These purposes include receiving instruction from God s Word 1Ti 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. ii. Serving and edifying one another through the proper use of spiritual gifts; Rom 12:3-8 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (4) For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: (5) So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. (6) Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; (7) Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; (8) Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. iii. Participating in the ordinances; Luk 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Act 2:41-42 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in 7
the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. iv. Proclaiming the gospel to those who are lost (Matt. 28:18-20) which I have already cited. c. In addition, when one becomes a member of a church, he submits himself to the care and the authority of the biblically qualified elders that God has placed in that assembly. Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; i. Two questions arise from FROM HEBREWS 13:17 Heb 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. 1. First, if there is no biblical requirement to belong a local church, then which leaders should an individual Christian obey and submit to? 2. Second, and more personally, who will a pastor like myself give an account for? 8
ii. The Scriptures clearly command Christians to submit to and honor an elder body (Heb. 13:17, 1 Tim. 5:17). Heb 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. 1Ti 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 1. There are no offices of elder Pastor or Bishop in the Body of Christ mentioned in the bible. 2. Since the verses I just read speak of obeying those who rule over you and if there is no understanding of local church membership, then who are we to submit to and obey? Is it anyone with the title elder Pastor Bishop from any church? 3. Should you as a Christian obey and submit to those loons at Westboro Baptist? In order to obey Scripture, must you picket soldiers funerals, as the pastor of Westboro seems to imply? iii. In watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you will I be accountable for all the members of the Body of Christ or will I be accountable for just some? 9
iv. If Just some; who or how is it determined which one? v. Will I give account for what I teach in bible study by those who attend the Sebastian Christian Church? Another clear biblical teaching deals with CHURCH DISCIPLINE? 1Co 5:1-12 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. (2) And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. (3) For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, (4) In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, (5) To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (6) Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? (7) Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: (8) Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (9) I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: (10) Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. (11) But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. (12) For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 10
1. After considering questions of authority and submission, the second issue that came up in my study of the local church was the biblical teaching on church discipline. a. You see it in several places, but none so clearly as 1 Corinthians 5:1-12. In this text Paul confronts the church in Corinth for approving of a man walking in blatant, unrepentant sexual immorality. b. The Corinthians are celebrating this as God s grace, but Paul warns them that this type of wickedness shouldn t make them boast, but rather mourn. c. He calls them arrogant and tells them to remove this man for the destruction of his flesh and the hopeful salvation of his soul. d. In verses 11-12, he pulls no punches: (11) But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. (12) For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? i. Considering this question out of this text is simple: How can you kick someone out if there isn t an in? ii. If there is no local commitment to a covenant community of faith, then how do you remove someone from that community of faith? iii. Church discipline won t work if local church membership doesn t exist. 11
LOTS OF OTHER EVIDENCE FOR MEMBERSHIP 2. We see in Acts 2:37-47 that there is a numerical record of those who have professed Christ and been filled with the Holy Spirit (v. 41) and an acknowledgement that the church was tracking the growth (v. 47). 3. In Acts 6:1-6, we see elections take place in order to address a specific problem and accusation. Act 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. In Rom 16:1-2 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: (2) That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. GOD S PLAN IS THAT WE WOULD BELONG TO LOCAL CHURCHES When you begin to look at these texts it becomes clear that God s plan for his church is that we would belong to a local covenant community of faith. This is for our own protection and maturation, and for the good of others. What s the bottom line? Local church membership is a question of biblical obedience, not personal preference. 4. Biblical Church government is a study of how early Christians got things done! a. Biblical Church government is about accomplishing the church s mission. 12
b. It was about how to process what God was doing among them in the most effective ways possible. 13