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- Preaching the Living WORD through the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4:2
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INTRO TO THE
ECCLESIASTICAL VIEW OF THE CHURCH (Eph 3:3-11; Mat 16:18; Acts 2:24-47)
10/14/12 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. THE DEFINITION OF THE
CHURCH A. The
English word “church” comes from the Old English word “cirice” and was
changed in Middle English to “chirche”. It originated from the Greek word kyriakos
and means “belonging to the Lord.” B. However the Greek word for church in the
NT is ekklęsi,a which is made up of two Greek words, ek - “out
of” and & kale,ō “to call.” So it could be said the church
is made up of those who were “called out by God” or the “called-out ones.” C. Though “church” can refer
to a building or even an ecclesiastical organization, it particularly means
the living organism of all who have placed their faith in Christ and have
become part of His body through the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:23; Col 1:18; 1Co
12:13). II. THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH
(Eph 3:3-11) A. In the Bible, the word
“mystery” (mustę,rion - secret, unknown beforehand) often refers to something decreed by God but hidden in ages past
until God reveals it at a later time. B. The church in general, was a mystery
hidden by God but now revealed (Eph 3:3-11). 1. The
Church was a mystery revealed to Paul (Eph 3:3-4 also called “mystery of
Christ”). 2. The Church was not known in ages past,
not even by the OT prophets (Eph 3:5 cp. 1Pe 1:10-12). 3. It pertains to the inclusion of believing
Gentiles with believing Jews into the one body of Christ, the Church (Eph
3:6-8) 4. God’s wisdom and mystery is revealed in
and through the Church according to God’s eternal purpose (decree) (Eph
3:9-11). III. THE FOUNDATION OF THE
CHURCH (Mat 16:18) A. The word “church” (ekklęsi,a) was first
mentioned by Jesus in Mat 16:18. In that context He asked the disciples who
the people thought that He was (Mat 16:13). The people’s response was that He
was prophet because of how He taught and performed miracles (Mat 16:14).
Apparently none of the people thought that He was the Messiah. B. Then He asked the disciples who they
thought He was (Mat 16:15). Peter, in a resounding manner, answered that
Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 1. Peter
affirmed that Jesus was the “Christ” (Christo,s from chri,ō - “to anoint”, i.e. the Anointed One, the
Messiah) who would die for the sins
of man (Isa 53:5-6). 2. He also affirmed Christ’s deity in that
He was the “Son of God” (Joh 10:33-36; 19:7). 3. Jesus confirmed this by saying that such
truth was only revealed by His Father (Mat 16:17). C. It was upon Peter’s
statement of the truth of the Person and Work of Christ that Jesus said He
would build His church (Mat 16:18). 1. Jesus did
not say that Peter (petros (masc.) - boulder) was the “rock” (petra
(fem.) - rock cliff) upon which He would build His church. 2. “This” (tau,tę) rock
referred back to what the Father revealed to Peter, namely his statement
regarding the Person (“Son of God”) and Work (“the Christ”) of Christ. 3. It is Jesus Himself (“I”) who will build
(oikodome,ō
- “to construct, erect, or build”)
His church (ekklęsi,a) through His own Person and
Work. He is the “cornerstone” of the church (Eph 2:20) and a sinner enters
into the body of Christ, the church, through faith in His Person and Work on
the cross (Joh 20:31; 1Co 12:13). IV. THE WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH
(Act 2:24-47) A. Prerequisites of Worship 1. Since
this is the “Ecclesiastical View of the Church,” we will concentrate more on
the external aspects of worship as opposed to internal attitudes of worship. 2. Having said that, a number of
prerequisites are foundational. a) It must
comprise the assembling of true believers who have placed their faith in
Christ (Act 26:18) and have received the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13). b) The essence of worship is imbedded in the
Greek word for “worship,” which is proskune,ō and
means to “bow down and kiss one’s feet, hand, or ground.” It is the
humble adoration, reverential trust, and submission to God. c) The internal attitude of worship for the
believer was given to us by our Lord in Joh 4:24. True worshippers must
worship in “spirit and truth”. “Spirit” (pneuma, human spirit, attitude,
or Holy Spirit) here is the internal attitude of genuine, transparent,
sincerity with which one must approach God. “Truth” would refer to the
emphasis that must be placed on God’s truth contained in God’s Word about
Himself, man, worship, and Christian living. B. Aspects of Worship (Act
2:42-47) 1. Assembling
Together (46) a) There were
certain aspects to which the early Church devoted themselves. The fact that
they “were continually devoting themselves” (present participle -
proskartere,ō
- persistently and continually devoted to ) gives the church today a model for the aspects of worship. b) They were devoted to assembling together
as a church for worship. It states, “day by day continuing with one mind
in the temple” (Act 2:46). These were Jewish believers who were
frequently assembling together in the Temple. This was the Jewish custom and
became the New Testament model for assembling in churches. c) They were gathering together to worship
in a common place to carry out all the other aspects of worship. The purposes
for their gathering were teaching of the Word, building up one another,
prayer, ordinances, and ministry. d) In Heb 10:25, believers are exhorted not
to forsake (egkatalei,pō - leave behind, settled desertion) their assembling together. Contra wise believers
are exhorted to assemble regularly where they can “hold fast their
confession of hope without wavering” (Heb 10:23), “stimulate one
another to love and good deeds” (Heb 10:24), and “encouraging one
another” (Heb 10:25). e) There was structure to their assembling
together with a common place of worship, common belief, and a common leadership
(Heb 13:7, 17, 24). f) Unfortunately, not regularly assembling
together was already a habit (ethos - custom) of some and is still
repeated in our day. 2. Edification
(42) a) One of the
most important aspects of worship was to be continually devoted to the
“apostles’ teaching.” The apostles were commissioned to be the foundation of
the teaching of God’s truth to the saints (Eph 2:20). b) God’s truth was specifically revealed to
them to keep truth and doctrine pure in the church (Gal 1:12). Today
believers have God’s revelation through the inspired Scriptures of the
apostles (Joh 14:26; 2Pe 1:20-21; 3:16). 3. Fellowship
(42-45) 4. Prayer (42) 5. Evangelism (47) 6. Ordinances (42, “breaking of bread”) V. OBSERVATIONS AND
APPLICATIONS A. As believers, we are part
of the spiritual body of Christ, the spiritual church. Christ lives in and
through the individual believer and is present when two or three are gathered
together (Mat 18:20). B. The Person and Work of Christ is the
cornerstone of truth, cornerstone of faith, cornerstone of security,
cornerstone of the message to the world, and the cornerstone of edification
in the church. It must be guarded in our hearts, in the church, and promoted
through the expository teaching of the God’s Word. C. The life and growth of believers can take
place outside the church, but the focal point and purpose of spiritual life
for believers is in church. To forsake assembling together is to forsake
God’s eternal purpose for the church. D. A great mystery is that the church is the
Bride of Christ, which He loved, gave Himself for, is sanctifying, and will
present to Himself spotless for all eternity (Eph 5:25-32). |
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