THE CHURCH: ITS ORGANIZATION
Matt. 16:18
1. SPOKEN OF AS PHYSICAL IN NATURE.
A. Correct to use term "church" only in a Biblical sense and
to convey Bible idea.
B. Assembly of the people-Acts 19:32; a church, but not
the church. See also Acts 19:37. Dismissed the assembly or
church-not the church.
C Word in common use among the Jews; Christ did not coin
the word, but took it and applied it to His people, not any
church. just because an organization is called a church
does not make it His church.
11. NOT MERELY PHYSICAL BODY OR ASSEMBLY.
A. People called out of darkness. Col. 1:13. All saved in the
church. Acts 2:47; Eph. 5:23.
B. Hardest thing is to get people to see what the church is.
Matt. 16:18; Col. 1:18. Refers to the "called out"great
body of Christ. Its head never dies-Pope dies-that church
goes eight days without a head.
C. Church of Firstborn. Heb. 12:23. The word church used
in a geographical sense in Galatians; a local sense in Rom.
16:16. Churches of Gentiles-Rom. 16:4.
D. Pilate didn't have a true understanding of the church.
jno. 18:36, 39.
111. THE NATURE OF THE KINGDOM OR CHURCH.
A. Church called Body . Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22, 23, Christ is the
Head of the Body or church.
B. Our bodies have heads. Members of body directed by the
head. When one member of body is honored, the whole
body is honored.
C. Vineyard of the Lord. Members of the Body-Rom. 12:16.
A family-I Tim. 3:14, 15. All these terms describe the
same thing.
IV. WE UNDERSTAND THINGS BY COMPARISON.
If we lived in England, perhaps it would be easier to un-
derstand the Lord's Kingdom or church. Life in the United
States makes this harder, since we are so accustomed to
the idea of democracy.
V. BEFORE CHRIST, THE STATE AND RELIGION
WERE COMBINED, BUT SINCE THE KINGDOM
OF CHRIST WAS SET UP, THEY ARE SEPA-
ATE. Lev. 24:16; Isa. 2:4; jno. 18:36.
A. If it had not been for the Roman government, the Jews
would have taken Christ out and stoned Him.
B. Little child shall lead them-Is&. 11:1, 6, 9.
C. Shall rule by word (rod of mouth)-Isa. 11:1-5. Nature
of king-Vs. 6-9. Nature of kingdom. Take place in Holy
Mountain-not civil government.
D. Moses took sword and drove people out of boundaries. We
take sword of Spirit and drive enemies out of Kingdom of
God.
VI. OUR KING MAKES LAWS WE ARE TO KEEP
THAT THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T.
A. Meet on first day of week; marriage, baptism, etc.
B. Religious world thinks church is a democracy; it is spirit-
ual.
VII. ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH.
A. Every organization has a head and government of some
kind-schools, businesses, our bodies, etc.
B. Elders govern the local church of Christ under the mind
of God-Acts 20:28. Be prepared-11 Tim. 2:1, 2; 1 Pet.
2:2; 1 Cor. 16:13. Watch ye. Removing elders like removing
fuel pump from auto; sometimes fuel pump wears out, or
breaks down and must be replaced.
VIII. CO-OPERATION IN THE CHURCH.
A. Be able to understand each other. Work together. Phil. 1:
27.
B. Republicans and Democrats worked together during the
war; labor and management; husband and wife. When di-
vision arises in these, it doesn't mean we are opposed to
them.
C. Every member needed, as every part of auto. Injured fin-
ger-resources of body rush to its aid. Christ is the driver.
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