Church

 

Church

 

It is Saturday morning and it has been a long work week. My writing has suffered because of my new schedule. I had to reprioritize my time to make sure I was on track of my goal. My goal is to study and learn the word of God so as to position myself for a better life. Rarely in life do we take the time to do an in depth study of the word of God. This is the first time in my life that I have actually taken the time to do an in depth study of the word along with journaling associated with the word. The combination of the two has given me a greater insight into the word and given me more confidence that I have been saved and will have life eternal with my Heavenly Father. What makes me a bit nervous as I sit here and write this morning is this;

 

How do I go about associating my beliefs with the beliefs of an organized church and how do I reconcile with myself my beliefs with the beliefs of the organized church.

 

What do the scriptures say about church, its structure, its practices, its methodology, its organization, its name, its foundation?

 

What do the scriptures say about the church?

 

Matthew 16:8 – And I tell you that you are Peter and in this rock I will build by church and the Gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matthew 16:19 – I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

 

Key verse – John 3:13 – No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven, the son of man.

 

Now this may appear incredibly controversial but, is it possible that none of us came from heaven, we did not originate there, we have never been there, we did not exist there, and we were not created as spiritual offspring residing in heaven waiting for an earthly body. John clearly states “No one has ever gone into heaven.”

 

What he is referring to that no one has ever gone into heaven needs to be taken a look at.  John 20:23 – If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them they are not forgiven. Jesus gave the apostles the authority to forgive or not to forgive ones sins so that they may be saved. They had the power and authority as granted to them by Jesus to save or redeem people by forgiving their sins or send them into damnation by not forgiving their sins. That is what is meant when they say what you shall bind on earth (to forgive or not to forgive) shall be bound in heaven and what you have loose (forgive or not to forgive) on earth will be loosed in heaven. What Jesus was doing was giving the Apostles the power and authority by God to forgive or not forgive a person’s sins. That phrase appears again in Matthew 18:18 – I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

 

Key Verse – Matthew 18:19, 20 – Again I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name there I will be.

 

Matthew 18:15-20

Dealing With Sin in the Church

¹⁵ “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. ¹⁶ But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. ¹⁷ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

¹⁸ “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

¹⁹ “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

 – This is further reference to the fact that what Jesus was referring to when he said “bind” and “loose” relates to their power and authority to forgive or not to forgive sin. Another reference to church is found in Matthew 18:17 – If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, if he refuses to listen to even the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

 

Who is the church?

 

Matthew 16:18 – And I tell you that you are Peter and in this rock I will build my church. We see that by combining these two verses that Peter is the foundation, the rock, in which Christ built his church.

 

If you sinned against your brother you would …

 

1. Approach your brother

 

2. Take along a mediator or two

 

3. Take it to the church.

 

The church had the right to judge the situation, Jesus gave the power and authority to judge (bind and loose) one's transgression or sin against another. In verse 20 of Matthew we see that where two or three are gathered together in his name, there he will be.

 

Do we need a church?

 

Not to have the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ! He will be there if we meet together, as believers in his name. In Acts 20:28 – we see Paul telling the Ephesians Elders “Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.” Look at verse 28 – Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you over. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 – I know that when I leave savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Here there is reference made to the church of God, his flock as in sheep. In Matthew 9:36 – Jesus said we “were helpless like sheep without a shepherd.” He is our shepherd; he has come to lead the flock. In John 10:1-42 – we see the story of Jesus and his flock (sheep).

 

The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. ² The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” ⁶ Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

⁷ Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. ⁹ I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. ¹³ The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. ¹⁷ The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

¹⁹ The Jews who heard these words were again divided. ²⁰ Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”

²¹ But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Further Conflict over Jesus’ Claims

²² Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, ²³ and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. ²⁴ The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

²⁵ Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, ²⁶ but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. ²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.”

³¹ Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, ³² but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

³³ “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”? ³⁵ If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— ³⁶ what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? ³⁷ Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. ³⁸ But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” ³⁹ Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.

⁴⁰ Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, ⁴¹ and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” ⁴² And in that place many believed in Jesus.

He tells us in chapter 10 verse 7 – I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 9 – I am the gate, whoever enters through me will be saved. 14 – I am the Good Shepherd, I know my sheep and my sheep know me. 16 – I have other sheep (Gentiles not the Jews) that are not of this sheep pen that I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

 

Remember Gods will is to draw us to Jesus and Jesus work is to not lose one that God has drawn to him.

 

Matthew 6:29, 39. Verse 27 – My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. 28 – I give them eternal life and they shall never perish, no one can snatch them (not even Satan) out of my hand. 29 – My father who has given them to me, is greater than all, no one can snatch them out of my father’s hands, I and the father are one. We have been called; we have listened and obeyed by believing in his son, we do hear his son’s voice.

 

Another function of the church (flock of believers) the church in those days constituted those who followed and believed in Jesus. There is no reference made to a building, a set of rules, guidelines, or other things constituted by man.

 

1 Corinthians 5:12 – we see Paul talking to the people of Corinth and he says what business is it to judge those outside the church? (Those who didn’t believe in Jesus, or who were not his followers) Are you not to judge those inside (responsibility given to the Apostles who conferred that responsibility to others as it relates to the forgiveness of sins, transgressions, one against another)? God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked men from among you. In those days there were many false teachers of the word (the word being Jesus), Paul exclaimed, expel those who are wicked, who do not repent of their sins, who teach false doctrine, who break the laws or commands of God (his commandments, such as adultery, stealing, etc.) and who do not live responsibly. These you should expel from the flock or church as it was called. In 1 Corinthians 14:4 – Paul states he who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 – He who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues unless he interprets so that the whole church may be edified. 12 – So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

 

I believe it is apparent from these verses that the people who believed in Jesus came together and met and when they met together some spoke in tongues, others interpreted. Again there is no mention of a formal building, rituals or rites.

 

1 Corinthians 14:26-39 – Paul instructs the people of Corinth on “orderly worship.” Verse 26 – What then shall we say brothers? When you come together everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation or a tongue or an interpretation. All these must be done for the strengthening of the church (Jesus flock).

 

Key verse – 1 Corinthians 14:33 – God is not a God of disorder, but a God of peace.

 

Verse 34 – As in all congregations of the saints (followers of Christ) woman should remain silent in the churches (plural). They should not be allowed to speak, but must be submissive as the law says – If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is a disgrace for a woman to speak in church.

 

Church back then is not the same as we know church today. Today we have organized religion and churches. Back then they did not have organized churches as we know them today. What we see today has been implemented by man. Women of today of course speak in church as man has developed it. Back then church may have consisted of a person’s home, an open field, or some other outdoor meeting place.

 

What we learned in verse 26 of chapter 14 is that

 

1. We should come together

 

2. Have a hymn, sing

 

3. Have a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or interpretation.

 

4. All this must be done for the strengthening of the church.

 

Ephesians 5:22, 23 – we see wives submit to your husbands as to the Lord, for the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the savior. 24 – Now as the church (Jesus flock) submits to Christ (see him as their shepherd) so also wives should submit to their husbands. 25 – Husbands love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. 26 – To make her holy, cleansing her holy, cleansing her by washing with water through his word. 27 – And to present himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.