ZNA-203
931107AM
WHAT IS A CHURCH?
Quidnessett..
There are many quidnessetts, in the phone book i found: Grange-cemetary-country club-service center-school for young children-materials service-bookstore…
Baptist… There are northern, southern, american, zion, reformed, free will, independent, conservative…
But there is one word that is so vital to us this morning: church
1577 ekklesia {ek-klay-see’-ah}
from a compound of 1537 and a derivative of 2564; TDNT – 3:501,394; n f
AV – church 115, assembly 3; 118
1) a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly 1a) an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating 1b) the assembly of the Israelites 1c) any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance, tumultuously 1d) in a Christian sense 1d1) an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting 1d2) a company of Christian, or of those who, hoping for eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, observe their own religious rites, hold their own religious meetings, and manage their own affairs, according to regulations prescribed for the body for order’s sake 1d3) those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a company and are united into one body 1d4) the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth 1d5) the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heaven
SO, WHAT IS A CHURCH?
THE CHURCH OR “THE CALLED ONES” IS UNIQUE IN ALL THE WORLD. IT IS THE ONLY ORGANISM CHRIST PROMISED TO BUILD:
Matthew 16:18-20 And I tell you that you are Peter, {[Peter] means [rock.]} and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades {Or [hell]} will not overcome it. {Or [not prove stronger than it]} 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be {Or [have been]}
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bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be {Or [have been]} loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ. (NIV)
THERE ARE EIGHT KEY VITAL STATISTICS THAT DESCIBE THE CHURCH OR “THE CALLED ONES”. EACH OF THESE ELEMENTS MAKE IT TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN ANYTHING ON THE EARTH.
LETS LOOK AT WHO WE ARE TO BE AS THE CHURCH.
1. WE ARE ELECTED=CALLED BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.
Romans 8:28-30 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (KJV)
1 Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (KJV)
Ephesians 1:4-5 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will — (NIV)
Ephesians 1:11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, (NIV)
2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (KJV)
1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you]. (KJV)
2. WE ARE REDEEMED = CALLED OUT OF THE BONDAGE OF SIN
Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (KJV)
GERMAN CATHEDRAL POEM
Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace (NIV)
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (KJV)
1 Peter 1:18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, (NIV)
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3. WE ARE SANCTIFIED = CALLED FROM THE WORLD TO GOD
Ephesians 1:4-6 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will — 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. (NIV)
1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. (NIV)
4. WE ARE IDENTIFIED = WE ARE CALLED INTO CHRIST AS HIS OWN
Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. (NIV)
Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (KJV)
Ephesians 1:4-6 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will — 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. (NIV)
5. WE ARE ILLUMINED = WE ARE CALLED UNDER HIS WORD
Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (KJV)
Ephesians 1:7-9 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (KJV)
6. WE ARE UNITED = CALLED TOGETHER INTO CHRIST
Philippians 2:2-5 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind. 3 [Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (KJV)
1 Thessalonians 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. (KJV)
7. WE ARE PROMISED = CALLED UNTO A GREAT INHERITANCE
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Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (KJV)
Colossians 3:1-2 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (NIV)
Hebrews 11:10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (NIV)
8. WE ARE COMMISSIONED = WE ARE CALLED FOR TELLING
Acts 5:20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people the full message of this new life.” (NIV)
Acts 5:20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. (KJV)
Ephesians 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. (KJV)