Matthew 16:18-20
I. The word church (ekklesia).
A. Can be used to mean assembly (I Cor. 14:23).
B. Can refer to the invisible, universal church (Matt. 16:18).
C. Can refer to a local congregation ( I Cor. 1:2).
D. Can refer to several congregations in a region (Acts 9:31).
31* So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.
II. Names and figures used to describe the church of Christ.
A. Body of Christ -
Eph. 1:22,23
22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Rom. 12:4,5
3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,
I Cor. 12:12-20.
B. House of God - I Tim. 3:15.
15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
C. House (Temple) of the Lord - Heb. 3:6
6 but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house--whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.
I Cor. 3:16
16 ¦ Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
2 Cor. 6:16 - temple
Eph. 2:21
21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,
D. Sanctuary - Heb. 8:2.
2 a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.
E. The true tabernacle - Heb. 13:10.
10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.
F. House of prayer - Luke 19:46.
46* saying to them, "It is written, 'AND MY HOUSE SHALL BE A HOUSE OF PRAYER,' but you have made it a ROBBERS' DEN."
G. Temple of the Holy Spirit - I Cor. 3:9,16,17; Heb. 3:5,6; I Pet. 2:4,5
H. Vineyard - Luke 20:9-18.
I. Assembly of the saints - Ps. 89:7; James 2:2
2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes,
J. Light Matt. 5:14-16; Luke 16:8; John 12:36.
K. School - John 6:45
Acts 2:42
42* ¦ They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
I Cor. 4:17, 12:28; Col. 1:28.
L. Bride of Christ - 2 Cor. 11:2
2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.
Eph 5:25-27; Rev. 19:7, 21:9.
M. Church of God - I Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1; I Cor. 11:16; 2 Cor. 1:1
1 ¦ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia:
N. Family in heaven and earth - Eph. 3:15.
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
O. Flock of God - Isaiah 40:10, 11; 49:9; Luke 12:32
32* "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.
John 10:1-16.
P. Fold of Christ - John 10:16
16* "I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.
Q. General assembly of the Firstborn - Heb. 12:23.
23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
R. Golden candlestick - Rev. 1:12
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands
S. God's building - I Cor. 3:10-15.
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it.
T. God's husbandry (Farm) - Matt. 13:19-23; 37-43; Mark 4:14-20; Jn. 15:1-8.
U. God's heritage - Eph. 1:11
11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,
V. Habitation of God - Eph. 2:22
22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
W. Church of Christ - Romans 16:16
X. Kingdom of God - Matt. 6:33; Mark 1:14,15; Luke 10:9-11; Jn. 3:3f
Y. Pillar and Ground of the truth - I Tim. 3:15.
15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
Z. Spiritual house - I Peter 2:5
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
III. The church is the body of Christ.
A. Ephesians 1:22-23.
22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
B. Colossians 1:18
18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
C. To be in the body of Christ is to be in Christ; to be in the body of Christ is to be in the church.
D. To claim salvation outside of the church is to claim salvation outside of Christ.
E. There are no spiritual blessings outside of the church.
1. Ephesians 1:3.
3 ¦ 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,
2. To be in Christ is to be in His body, which is His church; therefore, all spiritual blessings are in the church, and there are no spiritual blessings outside of the church (body of Christ).
3. Salvation is a spiritual blessing; salvation can be realized only in the church.
F. All the saved are in the church.
1. Acts 2:47
47* praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
2. God adds to the church "those who are saved," those not added to the church are not saved.
3. If all the saved are in the church, then there are no saved people outside the church.
G. The church was purchased by the blood of Jesus.
1. Acts 20:28
28* "Be on guard for yourselves and for 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.
2. Christ did not suffer and die at Calvary to purchase something that is unimportant.
H. Our attitude toward the church is our attitude toward Jesus.
1. Acts 9:1
1* ¦ Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,
2. The church is made up of all the people who are saved - Acts 2:47; I Pet. 2:5,9.
3. When Saul persecuted the disciples, he was persecuting the church.
4. Acts 9:4-5
3* As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;
4* and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"
5. The church is the body of Jesus
6. When Saul persecuted the disciples (church), he persecuted Jesus.
7. Our attitude toward the church is our attitude toward Jesus. If the church is unimportant, Jesus is unimportant.
I. Entrance into the Church.
1. Mark 16:16
16* "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
2. Gal. 3:26,27
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
3. Rom. 6:1-4
1 ¦ What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?
2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?
4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
This page was produced
with permission from
Mike Scott, Minister
Mt. Vernon church of Christ
Prescott, Arizona
www.scripturessay.com
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