GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT THE CHURCH-WILLIAM MACDONALD

Great Truths About the Church Submitted by William MacDonald on Tue, 02/08/2005 – 06:00 Church Ecclesiology (The Assembly/Local Church) Ephesians

THERE IS ONE BODY

According to Ephesians 4:4 there is only one Church. In spite of all the circumstances that seem to deny it, the fact remains that as far as God is concerned, there is only one body of believers on the earth today. Although this Church is never visible to man in its entirety, yet it is formed into a common body by the Holy Spirit.

CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY

By using the analogy of the human body (Ephesians 5:23, Colossians 1:18), Paul teaches us that Christ as Head in heaven controls His body on earth. The head speaks of authority, leadership, and the seat of the intellect. The head and the body share the same life, interests and prospects. As the head is not complete without the body, so, in a sense, Christ is not “complete” without His Church. Thus we read in Ephesians 1:23 that the Church, as His body, “is the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.” This is cause for deepest awe and worship in the believer.

ALL BELIEVERS ARE MEMBERS OF THE BODY

The moment a person is saved, he is added to the Church as a member of the body (Acts 2:47). This membership transcends the bounds of race, color, nationality, temperament, culture, social caste, language and denomination.

In his classic passage on the members of Christ’s body (1 Corinthians 12:12-26), Paul reminds us that there are many members in the body (vv. 12-14). Every member has a function to perform (vv 15-17). However, not all members have the same function (v. 19). The welfare of the body depends on all the members working together (vv. 21-23). Because all the members of the body need each other, there is no cause for envy or discontent, on the one hand (vv. 15-17); or for pride and independence on the other (v. 21). Because all are members of the one body, there should be mutual care, sympathy, and joy (vv. 23-26).

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF CHRIST IN THE CHURCH

After He ascended into heaven, the Lord Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be His Representative on the earth (John 14:16,26). The Spirit’s activities in the Church may be seen in part from the fact that He leads Christians in their worship (Ephesians 2:18); He inspires their prayers (Romans 8:26, 27); He empowers their preaching (1 Thessalonians 1:5); He guides them in their activities, both positively (Acts 13:2), and negatively (Acts 16:6, 7); He raises up overseers for the church (Acts 20:28); He bestows gifts for its growth and effectiveness (Ephesians 4:11) and He guides believers into all truth (John 16:13).

THE CHURCH OF GOD IS HOLY

God is calling out of the nations a people for His name. He sets them apart to Himself from the sinful world and calls upon them to respond with lives of practical holiness (1 Corinthians 3:17). Only in this way can the Church faithfully represent a holy God in this corrupt scene.

GIFTS ARE GIVEN FOR THE EDIFICATION OF THE CHURCH

It is the Lord’s will that the Church should grow both spiritually and numerically. To that end the risen Christ gives gifts to the Church (Ephesians 4:11). These gifts are men who are given special ability to build up the Church. As listed in Ephesians 4:11, the gifts are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. (see note 1).

We believe that the apostles and prophets were concerned primarily with the foundation of the Church (Ephesians 2:20). The need for these apostles and New Testament prophets passed when the foundation was laid, and we no longer have them, in the primary sense of the terms.(see note 2)

However, we still do have evangelists, pastors, and teachers. The evangelists go out to the world with the Gospel, bring sinners to Christ, and then lead them into the fellowship of the local church. Pastors take a shepherd-care of the flock, nourishing the sheep, encouraging them, and guarding them from evil. The teachers unfold the Word of God in an understandable way, and present the doctrines of the Scriptures in a well-balanced manner. However, the probability is that the “pastor-teacher” gift is one gift as the care of the flock would include teaching the Word of God.

As these gifts minister, the Church grows and the saints are built up in their most holy faith. Gifts are God’s provision for the expansion of the Church.

ALL BELIEVERS ARE PRIESTS OF GOD

A final truth which we will mention in connection with the Church is the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:5, 9). In the old Testament, only a certain group of men were eligible for the priesthood – the tribe of Levi and the family of Aaron (Exodus 28:1). Today there is no special caste of priests, separate from their fellows, with distinctive garb and peculiar privileges. All children of God are priests of God with all the privileges and responsibilities that go with such a name.

THE COMPLETION AND DESTINY OF THE CHURCH

As has already been noted, the Church is now in the process of construction. Every time a soul is saved, a living stone is added to the building. The edifice is rising silently without sound of hammer. The Holy Spirit adds daily to the Church such as should be saved (Acts 2:47).

One day soon, the work will be finished. The last stone will be added, and the Lord Jesus will descend into the air. As if drawn by a divine magnet, the Church will rise to meet the Savior, and together they both will return to the many mansions of the Father’s house. And so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

It will be the Church’s blessed portion not only to be with Christ forever, but also to share the glories which He won during His earthly career (John 17:22).

Throughout eternity the Church is destined to be an eternal witness to the glory of God. “That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7).

In the meantime, the Church is God’s masterpiece on the earth – an object lesson to principalities and powers in heavenly places of the manifold wisdom of God. Every believer should therefore be vitally interested in the Church, and his Christian service should have the expansion and edification of the Church as one of its primary aims.

NOTES (1)

 In 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, another list of spiritual gifts is given: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, the gifts of healing, the working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues, and interpretation of tongues. There is no necessary contradiction between the two lists. In Ephesians 4, the gifts are persons whose whole career, apparently, is given over to evangelism, teaching, or pastoral work, In 1 Corinthians 12, the gifts are endowments or abilities which are not necessarily limited to certain individuals but which the Holy Spirit may give to any member of the Body of Christ at any time He chooses. For instance, any Christian man may be Spirit-led to give a “word of wisdom” or a “word of knowledge” and yet not be exactly a teacher. Another may be able to point a soul to Christ and yet not be an evangelist.

Again in 1 Corinthians 12:28, Paul speaks of apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healing, helps, governments, and diversities of tongues. The question inevitably arises here as to whether we still have gifts of a miraculous nature today. In Hebrews 2:4, it is stated that God used signs and wonders to authenticate the early preaching of the Gospel. This was in days before the complete Word of God was available in written form. Many believe that with the coming of the complete Bible, the need for these miracles ceased. The Bible does not settle the matter decisively. While we believe that these miracle gifts are not with us today, generally speaking, yet we cannot say that the sovereign Spirit is not at liberty to use them still, especially on those mission fields where the Scriptures are not extensively available. In any event, those who do profess to have these miraculous gifts must be careful to use them in accordance with the instructions of the Word (for example, the use of tongues is regulated in 1 Corinthians 14).

NOTES (2)

In a secondary sense, we doubtless still have apostles, if we simply mean men sent forth by the Lord, In this lesser sense, we still have prophets also, that is, men who cry out for God against sin and abuse But we utterly reject the idea that there are men today who have the same authority as was committed to the original apostles or who can speak by the same direct and inspired revelation as the New Testament prophets.

http://www.plymouthbrethren.org/article/525

THE CHURCH WHICH IS HIS BODY-WILLIAM MACDONALD

The Church Which is His Body Submitted by William MacDonaldon Tue, 02/08/2005 - 06:00 Acts Ephesians DEFINITION OF THE CHURCH  In the New Testament, the word church is a translation of the Greek word elklesia, which means “a called-out company,”“a gathering” or an “assembly.” Stephen used the word todescribe Israel as “the church (assembly)in the wilderness’, (Acts 7:38). It is also used in thebook of Acts to describe aheathen mob at Ephesus (Acts19:32,39,41). But the mostcommon use of the word in the New Testament is to describea group of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus Paul speaksof “the church of God, which He hath purchased with His ownblood” (Acts 20:28). In his first letter to the Corinthian Christians, the great apostle divides the whole world into Jews, Gentiles, and the church of God (1 Corinthians 10:32). Again,he identifies the church of God as including the group ofChristian believers whom he persecuted before his conversion (1 Corinthians 15:9). It has often been said that the Church is not an organization but an organism. By this is meant that it is not a lifeless institution but a living unit. It is a fellowship of all those who share the life of Christ and who are linked together in living union by the Holy Spirit. It has been well called “a pure communion of persons without institutional character.” Many descriptive titles are given to the Church in the New Testament, and one of the best ways of arriving at an understanding of the church is to consider the significance of each title. The following are the prominent descriptions of the church:  1. A flock (John 10:16, R.V.). The Jewish nation was a fold. The Church is a flock. In John 10: 16 the Lord Jesus said, ‘Other sheep I havewhich are not of this fold (Israel): them also I must bring,and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one flock(R.V.) and one Shepherd.” The idea of a flock bringsbefore our minds a group of Christians living togetherunder the loving, tender care of the Good Shepherdhearing His voice and following Him. 2. God’s husbandry (1 Corinthians 3:9) The Church is God’s garden plot in which He purposes to raise fruit for His glory. The thought of fruit-bearing is thus brought before us here. 3. God’s building (1 Corinthians 3:9) This expression pictures God as carrying on a building program. He is adding living stones to the Church. How important it is that our lives should be devoted to the construction project in which He is so vitally interested! 4. The temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16) The word ‘temple” immediately brings before us the thought of worship, and reminds us that the only true worship God gets on earth today is from those who are members of the Church. Worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:23, 24). Such worship can only come from redeemed hearts. 5. The body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22,23) The body is the vehicle by which a person expresses himself. Thus the body of Christ is the unit through which the Lord chooses to express Himself to the world today. Once this great truth is grasped, a believer will never againthink of the Church as of minor importance, but will devotehimself unreservedly to the best interests of the body ofChrist. 6. A new man (Ephesians 2:15) Here the idea of a new creation is prominent. The greatestof all differences among men—that of Jew and Gentile—has been abolished in the Church, and God makes ofthese two peoples one new man. 7. An habitation of God (Ephesians 2:22) This expression conveys the truth that God now dwellsin the Church, rather than in a material tabernacle ortemple, as in the Old Testament. 8. The bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:25-27; 2 Corinthians 11:2) This view of the Church gives prominence to the idea of affection. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christalso loved the Church, and gave Himself for it; that Hemight sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word; that He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such  thing, butthat it should be holy and without blemish. ” If Christ lovedthe Church, and gave Himself for it, then obviously theChurch should be filled with brida affection for Him. 9. The house of God (1 Timothy 3:15) A house (or household) speaks to us of order and discipline.The thought of order is suggested in 1 Timothy 3:15: “Thatthou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself inthe house of God.” Discipline is suggestedin 1 Peter 4:17:“Judgment must begin at the house of God.” 10. The pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15) In addition to being a support for a building, a pillar was often used in early days for posting public notices. It wasameans of proclamation. The word “ground” means abulwarkor a support. Thus the Church of God is the unitwhich He hasordained for proclaiming, supporting, anddefending His truth. We may safely say, therefore, thatif Christians are to be inthe current of God’s will andpurposes, they should devotetheir finest efforts to the expansion and spiritual welfare ofthe Church. THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH Many boast today that their mission is to preach the gospel,and they take a detached view of anything to do with thechurch. They should notice that the Apostle Paul’s ministrywas twofold: (1) “To preach among the Gentiles theunsearchable riches of Christ,” and also (2) “To make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery,” that is, to ground them in the great truths of the Church (Ephesians 3:8, 9). ORIGIN OF THE CHURCH Great and godly men have differed widely as to the time of the beginning of the Church. Many believe that the Churchis a continuation of the nation of Israel in he Old Testament.Others maintain stoutly that tthe Church did not exist in theOld Testament, but that it began in the new dispensation. In favor of the latter viewpoint are three considerations. In Ephesians 3:4, 5, Paul speaks of the Church as a “mysterywhich in other ages was not made known untothe sons ofmen, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostlesand prophetsby the Spirit.” Again, in verse 9 he states thatthe Church is amystery which from the beginning of the worldhath been hid inGod.” (See also Colossians 1: 26; Romans 16:25, 26.) Thus the Church was a secret, kept by God throughout the Old Testamenttimes, and never revealed until the New Testament apostles andprophets appeared. In Matthew 16:18, the Lord Jesus said,“Upon this rock I will build my Church.” In other words, theChurch was still future at the time He spoke. Again, in Ephesians 4:8-10, Paul emphasizes that it was the risen, ascended Christ whogave gifts to the Church. This argues strongly that if the Churchexisted before His ascension, it must havelacked gifts for its edification. We believe it is not only possible to show that the Church beganin the new dispensation, but, more specifically, that it wasbrought into being on the day of Pentecost.The body of Christ is said to have been formed by the baptismwith the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). Can we determine then when the baptism with the Holy Spirit took place? In Acts 1:5, immediately prior to the Lord’s ascension , He promisedthe apostles, Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not manydays hence.” On the day of Pentecost, “they were all filled withthe Holy Ghost, and began to speakwith other tongues as theSpirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2.4 11 :15-16). By the timewe reach Acts 5:11, the Church has definitely come into being,because we read that “great fear came upon all the Church….”This certainly seems to pin-point the birthday of the Church as occuring at Pentecost. http://www.plymouthbrethren.org/article/526