THE CHURCH IN THE BIBLE

THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

One of the most common questions about the church asked is, "How can I know which is the right church?" If God had left us in the world without a guide, this would indeed be a perplexing problem. As it is, it is only a problem to us because we have not used the guide which God has left for us. If we would turn to the Lord's Word with our problems rather than to men, we would save ourselves much confusion. The Bible is the only place to go to find God's plan for His church.

1. What names does the New Testament use in reference to the church? (Please note that in the beginning there was but one church.) These are not proper names as such. They are, rather descriptive terms.

A. Acts 20:28 "to feed the, church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood."

B. 1 Timothy 3:15 "Which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth."

C. Romans 16:16 "The churches of Christ salute you."

D. I Corinthians 14:33 "as in all churches of the saints."

E. Hebrews 12:23 "To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven."

2. What names are used for the members of the church?

A. Acts 11:26 "And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."

B. Colossians 1:2 "To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse."

C. Again, of these, only "Christian", which was given by the people of Antioch for those who followed Christ, is really a proper name. The others are all descriptive.

3. John 17:21 "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."

4. 1 Corinthians 1:10 "Now I beseech you brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement."

5. Matthew 16:18 "And I say unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

6. The New Testament names only two types of officers for the church.

A. 1 Peter 5:1-4 "The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed."

B. 1 Timothy 3:1-7 "If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work."

C. 1 Timothy 3:8-13 "deacons."

(The elders (bishops) seem to have the spiritual oversight of the church while the deacons are responsible for the material and benevolent activities.)

7. Does any man have the right to be the head of any "Christian" church?

A. Ephesians 5:23-29 "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."

B. Matthew 28:18 "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." The church begins in heaven and extends eternally in heaven."

8. The Lord's establishing of and additions to the church.

A. Acts 2:1 "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one ccord in one place." (This was the first Pentecost after the crucifixion.)

B. Acts 2:47 "Praising God, and having favour with all people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.