The Church of Jesus Christ

The Origin and Nature of the Church

Aim: to instill in our pupils the realization of the privilege and responsibility incurred in being a church member through a thorough understanding of the origin and nature of the church.

Point of Contact: Do you know when the church was started? Do you know who the first church members were? Do you know what these folks had to do to be church members? Who do you suppose baptized them?

Introduction: today we want to study the origin of the Church. Many people think it began at Pentecost, but we will see that it did not. We also want to study more about what a church is so that we can be more effective church members.

I. The Origin of the Church. (Matthew 16:13-20)

A. The First Church (New Testament Assembly) was organized out of the material prepared by John, the Baptist.

1. John the Baptist received his authority to baptize from Heaven. (Matthew 21:25). Remember the prerequisite to membership in a New Testament Church is the New Birth and Scriptural Baptism. Scriptural Baptism involves:

A Scriptural Candidate: One who has been Born Again.

A Scriptural Mode: One who is Immersed.

A Scriptural Purpose: Picturing the New Birth. (Burial and Resurrection).

Scriptural Authority: God Given Authority.

Note: The Disciples had been Scripturally Baptized.

2. Jesus and all the Apostles including the successor to Judas Iscariot were baptized by John. (Acts 1:21-22).

3. Jesus took this material prepared by John the Baptist and organized the first Church. (Matthew 4:18). Peter and Andrew were already saved and baptized. (John 1:35-42; 4:1,2).

B. The Church was established during the earthly sojourn of Christ.

1. Christ said, "I will build My Church"; (Matthew 16:18) meaning during the days of His personal ministry on earth. We find it already established in (Matthew 18:15-18.)

2. The authority of discipline was placed in the church during Christ's personal ministry. Matthew 18:15-18.

3. Christ sang God's praise in the midst of the Church. (Hebrews 2:12; Mark 14:26)

4. The Church had a treasurer and organization during Christ's earthly ministry. (John 13:29; Acts 1:15-26)

5. The Church had a Head: Jesus Christ. (Colossians 1:18)

6. The Great Commission was given to the Church during Christ's stay on earth. (Matthew 28:18-20)

Note: The Church was established in the days of Jesus sojourn in the flesh (before Pentecost) and the work of its construction was begun with the material prepared by John the Baptist, later the material prepared by the twelve Apostles (John 4:1,2); and at the close of His earthly ministry we find this little band in Jerusalem transacting business by the election of a successor to Jesus.

C: The church was established upon Christ; (Matthew 16:18).

"Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build My Church". This has been greatly misinterpreted. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that the church was built upon Peter and therefore claim that he was the first Pope. There is no scriptural nor physical evidence that Peter was ever in Rome. Peter was certainly not above reproach for he was rebuked to the face by Paul at Antioch. Galatians chapter one. Also, Peter was married. (Luke 4:38,39)

"Peter" is in the Greek language "Petros" meaning "a little rock". "Rock" in the verse in question is "Petra" meaning "a big Rock". Petra is always used in scripture to refer to God. As Dr. G. Campbell Morgan says, "If we trace the figurative use of the word `Rock' throughout the Hebrew Scripture, we find it is never used symbolically of man, but always of God. (I Corinthians 3:11; I Peter 2:5,6) It is not upon Peter that the Church is built, but upon Jesus Christ, who is the foundation and Chief Corner Stone of the Church.

II. The Perpetuity of the Church

(Matthew 16:18,"And the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.")

This promise of Christ to the church established the fact that churches like the church that Jesus built would be in existence in all ages and would never lose their identity. To "prevail" means to defeat, destroy, or stamp out. All the forces of Hell will never be able to destroy the Church that Jesus built.

That church as an institution exists today and there are thousands of such churches in the world today. There are literally hundreds of denominations, religious sects, etc. in existence today. Someone has numbered over 1600.

Our Lord has only one church. (Ephesians 4:4)

How are we to know which of all the many different churches is the one that Christ established? There are two things that serve to identify today's New Testament Church.

A. Historical Perpetuity: Historians can trace the history of todays Baptist Churches back to Christ. Cf. "The Trail of Blood" by J. M. Carroll.

Beginnings of some Denominations.

1. Catholic Church had its germinal beginning with the Roman Emperor Constantine in the 4^th century.

2. Lutherans: 1520, Martin Luther.

3. Episcopalians: 1534, King Henry VIII.

4. Presbyterians: 1536, John Calvin.

5. Methodist: 1740, John Wesley.

6. Church of Christ: 1827, Alexander Campbell.

Baptists are the only group whose beginning can be traced to Christ. All others have human founders and can within limits be dated.

B. Doctrinal Conformity.

The New Testament Church today will believe the same doctrines as the first church that Jesus built and that can only be the Baptists. If you were to put the Church of Jerusalem or the Church of Thessalonica in Miami, what would yo call it? Answer: A Baptist Church!

Discussion: If there is only one kind of church in the New Testament, how do we account for so many kinds of churches today?

III. The Nature of the Church.

A. It is a Divine Institution: Eight times in the New Testament the Church is called the "Church of God." (cf. I Thessalonians 2:14; Romans 16:16)

1. It is Divine in that a Divine Architect planned it.

The idea of the church originated in the mind of God, not man. When God established the Tabernacle He instructed Moses exactly how to build it. (Hebrews 8:5) When God was ready to establish the church which was to be the Temple of the Holy Spirit, He gave the pattern by which it was to be fashioned. This pattern is to be found in the New Testament and God warns men today, "see that ye make it according to the pattern showed you in the Book." God's plan is never out of date.

2. It is Divine in that a Divine builder constructed it. (Matthew 16:18) Note: My church; I will build; (Acts 2:47) Note: "The Lord added."

The Lord chooses and shapes the material that goes into the construction of His Church. There is no place in the Church for those whom the Lord has not added.

3. It is Divine in that a Divine Purchaser Bought it: (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25; I Corinthians 6:19,20)

4. It is Divine in that a Divine Lord has commissioned it; (John 20:21; Matthew 28:19-20) It is His Church that has been commissioned to propagate the Gospel, baptize converts, and guard the purity of His Ordinances.(I Corinthians 11:2)

B. It is a Spiritual Organism.

An organism is something that has life. (Revelation 3:1) Sometimes churches become dead. Then they are an organization but not an organism.

1. The church is spiritual in that it is composed of Spiritually Born Again people who are possessed with Spiritual Life. (Ephesians 2:1)

2. The Church is Spiritual in that it is the Dwelling Place of the Spirit of God. (I Corinthians 3:16,17)

3. It is a Blood Bought Band. Acts 20:28.

There is no true church unless it is a Blood Bought Church. Satan's masterpiece in the realm of institutions is a hypocrite church, one which pretends to be a Church of God and is not.

C. It is a Democratic Organization.

The New Testament Churches were established on Democratic principles. Each church was self governing and the members enjoyed equality of privileges. There were no super organizations to dictate to it and no overlords to rule over it.

Three figures of which the church is spoken gives insight into the nature of the church.

1. A Building: A Spiritual Building. (I Corinthians 3:9,16; II Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:20-22; I Peter 2:5)

The idea of the church being a building speaks of strength and security. The New Testament Church is a tower of strength in any community and gives security to the people in the community.

2. A Body: (Colossians 1:18)

A New Testament Church is the Body of Christ and Its Head, Jesus Christ is in Heaven. (cf. Ephesians 1:22,23; Romans 12:4,5; I Corinthians 12:12-27)

While Jesus is in Heaven, His Church which is called His Body is carrying on the same work that He was doing when He was present on earth. The Church likened to a Body suggests service, but also unity. Each individual having to perform their function well in order for the Body to function well.

3. A Bride: (Romans 7:4; II Corinthians 11:2)

This speaks of Purity. The members of a church should live a life of Purity and Holiness. The church should have a reputation in the community of righteousness and holiness. This is accomplished by the members.

Conclusion: Church membership is not to be taken lightly. The church is a Divine Institution and it is a privilege to belong to it. With that privilege comes some important responsibilities. It calls for clean living. No real Christian wants to be a diseased member of the Body of Christ or a stain on the Bride of Christ.

Questions:

1. Who gave John the Baptist the authority to Baptize?

2. Who Baptized Jesus Christ?

3. Did Jesus ever Baptize anyone?

4. When and by whom was the church established?

5. Give three reasons why you know the church was in existence before Pentecost.

6. Who is the Head of a New Testament Church?

7. Upon whom was the church established?

8. Is the church that Jesus built in existence today?

9. What proof have you that it is?

10. What church today can trace its beginning to Christ?

11. Where can we find God's pattern for His church?

12. Who bought the church?

13. What is the difference between an organization and an organism?

14. State three figures of the church.