The Identity of a New Testament Church?
The word "church" in the New Testament does not refer to a building where professing Christians gather, or to a denomination. The Scriptures use this word to speak of those who have been "called out of the world by God." The New Testament Church is really an "Assembly" of "called-out-ones." It is those persons who have been called unto the Lord Jesus Christ and out of this world (1 Peter 2:9). As the Gospel spread many "churches" were born. In the beginning, the apostles provided teaching and guidance to the churches (Acts 2:42). Such apostles are in the Church today; we do have the apostle’s ministry of the inspired Word of God through the lips of today’s apostle to help guide the church. The question is asked again, "According to Scripture, how should a local New Testament church function?" Let consider a New Testament Church at Berea.
The Church at Berea was an example that the Apostle Paul refers to in Acts explains clearly an attitude and position of a New Testament Church. Paul said of the Bereans, "they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). This is an attitude, pattern and the position of ministry of the church in today’s New Testament Order. It is also a good approach to many questions about the church. Not only should our perspectives, opinions, reasoning, experiences, and traditions of church’s history are the guide to understand the position of God’s true church; but also we must depend upon God's Word for clear understanding and explanation. "What does the Scriptures say?" must be our conviction. It should be our main and chief concern. What it says is truth and doctrine. “What does the scripture means,” is revelation.
There were many examples of a New Testament Assemblies throughout the New Testament age. We can find them in reading through the New Testament. We see at least four important things, which were a pattern to the early New Testament churches. These foundational principles and patterns of the early church are present for us today as an important message and guidance to the New Testament church structure. The Word of God is the rule for today’s church. We must recognize several important facts about God’s institution.
1) The New Testament Church holds the Scriptures as its Rule, Direction and Charter.
2) The Lord Jesus Christ is the center of the church.
3) The believers follow and practice the taught Word of God.
4) The church is baptized with the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit).
This Scripture will be the church’s Charter
”And they continued steadfastly in them apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers (Acts 2:42). They are faith believers. Bible faith comes from God's Word, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). It is faith God when He speaks." It is taking God at His Word. The Bible contains many accounts of persons who took God at His Word, often doing what was contrary to human reasoning. (Isaiah 55:8) The eleventh chapter of Hebrews records many accounts of individuals who took God at His Word and acted accordingly.
Living by faith is simply living by God's Word and placing the Word as the guide of thought and actions, regardless of what the world may say or think about the church. The faith of the church disregards what man’s minds and hearts may think and devise; it stands completely upon God and what His Words says.
The Word of God is above human reasoning. Paul, the Apostle says, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
The word "imaginations" means our "reasoning." The reasoning of the natural man is contrary to God's thoughts. Man is guilty of trying rationalizing or explaining away God's Word. What man really does is reject God’s Word. This rejection of God's Word results in disobedience. Disobedience leads to error in practice and separation fro God. It is as the sin witchcraft.
One of the most well known passages in Scriptures regarding disobedience is found in 1 Samuel chapter 15. Saul was instructed by God, through the prophet Samuel, to destroy all the Amalekites and all their animals, Saul disobey God and spared king Agag and the best of the animals. When confronted by Samuel, Saul rationalized his behavior by declaring his intention of offering the animals to the Lord. At this point Samuel tells Saul one of the great principles of Scripture regarding obedience to God's Word.
"Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams" (1 Samuel 15:22).
When the Bishops, Pastors, Evangelists and others of the church preached and teach living by faith and trusting God, the entire Bodies of Believers should practice obeying the word of faith taught. The Church must live by its faith teaching. If a local New Testament Church of Believers is to function properly and in accordance with God's Word, it must obey the word being taught. It must live by the word of faith! It must be obedient as a group of believers in Christ! The opinions, ideas and ways of man must be ignored and set aside as there is adherence to the Scriptures. We must adhere strongly to the New Testament teachings on the Church; “it must become completely our foundation and guide for faith and practice.”
The words of Samuel to Saul are, "man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). Its what God sees in the church that’s important. Again, today church appearance externally is deceiving. Most times this appearance is not the true church. We look at its size, programs and activities, and facilities to make our judgments. We forget or we are not taught the spirituality of the church. The Head of the Church is Christ. Christ looks at the heart of the church and the local assembly of believers (Revelation chapters 2,3). Christ sees a church works, and He also knows that despite all of its programs He (Christ) may not have first place among them (Revelation 2:2-4; 3:20). Christ also sees beyond what the world would consider weak and He demands and appreciates obedience to His Word (Revelation 3:8). This is the “quality” of the life of the church. What is more important, what the church has or what the church is?”
A New Testament Church continues as the scriptures teach "continued steadfastly (persevered) in the apostle's doctrine (teaching)" (Acts 2:42). The apostle's teachings have been recorded as part of inspired Scripture for us today in His church. The teaching is our PLANS AND PATTERN for the Church. They teach us and lead into how the Church must functioned in its right, holy and purest state. There is no better plan than what Christ left. It is for today’s church age?
Theology Systematic and Biblical
(Hardcover or SoftCover)
Bible Doctrines of the New Testament Church
