What Constitutes a Church?
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit hath made
you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."
Acts 20:28
The term ‘church’ is as popular today as hot dogs and corn bread. Sadly, religion
has so popularized it that it is rare to find a church in the biblical sense.
Some try to make the ‘church’ a worldwide organization under the head of a man, with men in positions of
authority determining who may or may not be part of it’s organization. They make a distinction between "clergy"
and "laity," holding men, traditions, and customs in high esteem above the Word of God.
Others have perverted the ‘church’ into a state run organization with royalty at it’s
head. In England today, the Queen is the official head of the Anglican organization.
Many who renounce Catholicism and Anglicanism still have their own institutions named after men with their
own associations and personalities. Denominations organize around their founders and struggle to maintain
their individual identities, even though their founders are long since dead.
In Scripture, however, there are two concepts of the church to which we must hold fast.
What are these?
THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
This is made up of all the elect of God, from all ages, whom the Lord Jesus Christ redeemed
with His own precious blood, and whom the Holy Spirit, at God’s appointed time, regenerates, and brings to Christ
in repentance, through the preaching of the Gospel, Hebrews 12:22,23. Some of it’s members are departed already,
and are now meeting around the throne of the Lamb, Revelation 5:9,10. The rest are scattered throughout the
world, in various places, cultures, and languages. Yet, they have this one common bond- God elected them
to salvation in eternity past; Christ redeemed them by His effectual, sacrificial death; and the Spirit of God
quickened their dead souls, and caused them to see Christ as their ALL in salvation and believe on Him. Wherever
they are, they worship God in Spirit and in Truth, John 4:20-24.
THE LOCAL CHURCH
There are some who contend that it is sufficient to be part of the universal church of Christ,
and therefore, refuse to seek out the fellowship of a local body of believers, where the Gospel is faithfully preached.
Others, are content to hold to what they call "the doctrines of grace," and yet, continue to attend places
where the Truth is denied. This is not scriptural.
In the Bible we find a pattern in those whom the Spirit of God regenerated. The
clearest example is in Acts 2: 41-42.
1). First, there is the requirement of saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, which is the result of the work of
the Spirit in the heart, through the faithful preaching of Christ.
2). Second, those who so believed on the Lord Jesus Christ confessed Him in the waters of baptism. This was
not a mere profession, but, a public identification with the One True Lord Jesus Christ. The only biblical
baptism is immersion, as a picture of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection for those He redeemed.
3). Third, believers continued faithfully in the instruction of the Word, submitting themselves to the direction
and leadership of those who faithfully preached it. They separated themselves from every false form of worship,
and sought only the fellowship of those whom the Spirit of God had made of kindred mind and spirit. They
supported the work of the Gospel, freely giving of all their substance.
4). Fourth, they communed together around the Lord’s table, and continued that fellowship with each other in their
homes. They rejoiced in the Gospel and made their company with the saints, not with the world. How magnificent
the Church which the Christ Himself is edifying on that foundation which no other can lay- Christ and Him crucified!
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