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The New Testament Churches

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Christ Died For Our Sins
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Jesus Christ Is The Founder Of The Church, The Only Head And Law Giver Of The NT Church. The New Testament Is The Complete All Sufficient Word Of Authority For The Faith And Practice Of The New Testament Church. 

The Bible is the Final Authority. “That which was from the beginning (the Word), which we have heard (the Bible), which we have looked upon (the Bible), and our hands have handled (the Bible), of the Word of life (the Bible)” (1 John 1:1) is The Final Authority. When Paul told Timothy to “Preach the Word” (2 Tim 4:2) the Bible is the Word he was to preach. And today those that are subjects of the Lord Jesus fellowship with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ by receiving His Word and walking in the light of His Word (1 John 1:3,7). The Bible is God's final and complete, unchangeable law, and only valid word of final authority for the individual Christian and for Christian churches. 

“I will build my Church” (Matt, 16:18) is proof that Jesus Christ Is The Founder of The Church. And Jesus Christ is The Foundation the Church is founded on. It is written, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 3:11; 1 Tim 3:15).

Jesus taught that a wise man builds his house upon a rock (Matt. 7:24) and Jesus is the Rock His Church is built upon. “He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He” (Deut 32:4), “For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God?” (Psalm 18:31). “He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God” (Psalm 62:6,7). “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man” (Psalm 118:8). This shows Jesus the Founder of the Church.

Jesus Christ Himself The Rock called Peter a stone (John 1:42), Jesus Christ and the Bible agree completely and in Him is hidden all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col 2:9), Jesus is Perfect God and perfect man, He is the Founder and Foundation of His House (1 Tim. 3:15), which is the Church of the Living God. Greek for Peter is petros, meaning a piece of rock or a small stone that might easily be moved. But rock is petra meaning a mass of rock that is a sure foundation. The Rock of Matthew 16:18 is Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Upon that Rock (petra) Jesus would Himself build His church. (Deut. 32:4; Ps. 18:31; 62:2,6,7; 115:1; 118:8; John 1:42; Eph. 2:8-9,20; Rom. 4:5; 1Pet. 2:4-9) Jesus is the churches one foundation, and only Head (Eph. 5:23; Col 1:18; John 13:14; Matt 23:8-10). Believers have the Word of God with the Spirit of God, God the Father, and the Son of God. See Acts 4:12; John 14;6; 10:7,9.

“Christ is the Head of the Church” says the Bible (Eph.5:23; Col.1:18). That is proof He is The Only Head for “The Lord our God is One Lord” (Deut.6:4). To receive another would be to obey men (Acts 5:29; Matt.15:9). Also Jesus identified Himself as head, in John 13:14 and Matthew 23:8-10: , "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet." And "But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ."

Also Jesus is The Only Law Giver of The Church, for it is vain to worship Him, while teaching for doctrines the commandments of men (Matt.15:9). Believers are under The Law of Christ (Gal.6:2), also called “The Perfect Law of Liberty” as we see in the verse “But whoso looketh into the Perfect Law of Liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:25). We Believers will give an account of ourselves to Jesus (2 Cor 5:10; 1 Cor 6:20; 7:23).

So of course Jesus is The Only Law Giver as He has taken Complete Responsibility for Believers, proven by His Dying on The Cross for Our Sins purchasing for us Complete Salvation, In fact He Has Given Commandment for Believers to Be Saved (Psalm 71:3), so Be Saved. Repent and Believe.

Those first set in the church were the twelve apostles (Matt.10:2:4; Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16; 1 Cor.12:28; Eph.2:20). Jesus sent them out to work (Matt.10:1-16), in fact He had an ordained ministry (Mark 3:14) with at least eighty-two preachers (Matt.10:5-7; Luke 10:1). There was a treasurer (John 12:6; 13:29). Jesus gave authorization for baptism (John 1:31-33; 4:2; Luke 3:21) and instituted the Lord’s supper (Matt 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:19-20) for churches. John is called the Baptist, but his name is John. The preaching of Christ, pointing people to the Lord, a ministry of the New Testament churches, goes back to John (John 1:6; Luke 1:13-17; Matthew 3:1-6). The commission of the New Testament churches is: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus sang in the midst of the church (Matt.26:30; Heb.2:12). Jesus taught and trained those in the church (Matt .5,6,7,etc.;Luke 24:27) giving rules of discipline and order (Matt.18:15-20). He gave them the Holy Ghost as the Comforter (John 14:16-17; 20:19-22; Eph.1:13-14). This giving of the Spirit to the church (John 20:19-22) was an earnest token of the promise of the baptism or fulness of the Spirit for a witness of the Lord Jesus to those that would wait for the great event that took place on the day of Pentecost (John 15:26-27; Acts 1:4-5,8; 2:16-21,38-41). John the Baptist was filled even from his mothers womb (Luke 1:15). This being filled with the Holy Spirit for a witness of Jesus is for believers now as well (Joel 2:28; Luke 11:13; Acts 2:39; 4:31,33;7:55-56; 8:14-17; 9:17,20; 11:16-17;19:6; John 15:26-27; Eph.5:18). Jesus gave the Great Commission to the churches He founded (Matt.28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:47; John 20:21). To this church three thousand were added in one day, and men are added to them yet today (Acts 2:41,47).

The New Testament churches are visible (Heb.12:22-25; 1 Pet 1:12; Luke 15:10). Believers can rejoice that their names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20; Heb 12:23), having their names in the Lamb’s Book of Life from before the foundation of the earth (Rev 13:8; 17:8; Eph 1:4; John 17:23-24), praising God for their common salvation (Acts 10:43; Jude 3; Luke 24:27; Eph 3:5-6). The church we are to be concerned with is the local, visible, independent, indigenous assembly, that Jesus Founded (Matt 16:18)!

Hebrews 12:22-25
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

Believers will give an account to Jesus Christ the Founder of the Church, the Only Head and Law Giver of the Church (2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23). The New Testament Church is being called out now. Believers, some saved and instructed before Pentecost (Acts 2) are taking part in special blessings commencing from then. Some are in heaven, some in various locations living on earth, and some not called out yet.

For now there are local, visible assemblies of people, the Churches Militant. These are the pillar and ground of the truth, God's Word (Jn.17:17; 1Tim.3:15). I see the General Assembly to be one thing, and The Church of The Firstborn to be another (Song of Solomon 6:8-9; Matthew 22:1-14; John 3:29; Revelation 19:1-10; 21:10).

The New Testament Church is visible, and is to be governed as the Bible directs (2Cor.3:6; Heb.12:18-25; Rev.1:9-3:22). Believers should have a desire toward the assembling with other believers of like precious faith, in local churches. These are the particular churches Jesus gives the Great Commission of Preaching the Gospel (Lk.24:45-49). Now we are to assemble in the particular local New Testament Churches (Heb. 10:25).

Local churches, believers, are to preach the Gospel, Christ Jesus Crucified (Rom.1:16; 1Cor.1:18,23;2:2; 15:3-4; 2Cor.3:5-9; Gal.1:16; Col.1:28), that men may come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus. To see those grow in the things of God (Matt.28: 18-20; Mk.16:15; Lk.24:45-49; Jn.20:21; Ac.1:8; 2:38-39) that have been washed in the blood, redeemed to be forever with the Lord, is in order for Churches Militant in these days (Jn.17:9,14-20; 1Jn.5:19).

The saved on earth are subject to God, the Kingdom in them, brought to see each to their measure. The lost as the Bible teaches hate God and His Word, not wanting to submit, judging the things of God as false (1Cor.2:14).

There are believers, saved, that are not Scripturally baptized and so are not members of the body of Christ. There is no universal invisible church. The word used by some to mean church is katholikos meaning universal. This word does not occur at all in the Scriptures but is borrowed from the Septuagint. Another word, translated kingdom in the New Testament that some in error refer to as a universal church is basileia. The kingdom and church are different and distinct. The word basileia that is translated kingdom is used in the singular and universal sense without exception. Making the kingdom refer to the church is the primary reason for the false notion of a universal church on earth. The word ecclesia translated church is used in the New Testament in the local, particular, multiple sense with two or three exceptions where church is referred to in general.

The word ecclesia that is translated church in the New Testament and means a called out assembly. A New Testament church is a group of called out baptized believers assembled in one locality, covenanted together for the purpose of carrying out the Great Commission that Christ gave His church in Matthew 28:16-20.

When we first believe, being born again, all believers are indwelt by the Holy Ghost (Eph 1:13). When one is saved they become part of the family of God (Eph 3:15), and the kingdom of God (John 3:3-7; Luke 17:21), but are not automatically added to the New Testament church. There is a distinction between the New Testament church, the family of God, and the kingdom of God.

Scripture tells how one is added to the body of Christ, the local New Testament church. Baptism places us in the body of Christ that is the visible and local New testament church. Led of the Spirit in obedience to the Scriptures water baptism places one in the body of Christ. There must be a proper candidate for baptism, a proper mode, a proper motive or design, and proper authority (administrator). The body of Christ is the New Testament church: Col 1:18, 24; Eph 5:30, 32; 1 Cor 12:27; Gal 3:26-27

Lord Jesus established a particular local, visible New Testament church, and not a universal invisible church. Only those churches following the order of the church He established is a New Testament church, and only those churches are given the promise of His presence and power, and only that church has been given the commission. Those churches departing from Biblical church order do not qualify as the church Jesus founded. The church Jesus founded is the church given the commission. It is said, the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matt 16:18) so there has been a church since that founded by Jesus from the material John prepared. I realize what I have stressed is not mentioned often. And as well is flat out denied by some.

The church which Jesus organized was of those John prepared (Acts 1:21-22; 1 Cor 12:28), and while baptism is now an ordinance of the church, those baptized are baptized before they are members of the church. That church Jesus founded was commissioned by Jesus (Matt 28:19).

From a New Testament perspective and thus it ought to be a Baptist perspective, the pastor is granted authority by a particular local New Testament church. There is no hierarchy of leaders that put the people under them, and as such no separation of the church but all have equal rights and privileges. But there is to be order and as such officers are chosen. Authority is granted by the local church congregation. The authority to baptize is granted by the particular local New Testament church. I recognize the church as having the ministry of the gospel, and the church is given the commission. The commission was in fact given to the apostles, the eleven, as they were first in the church (1 Cor 12:28). The church ought to make clear those given responsibility of the ministry of the church.

As such a person on their own, apart from local church authority would have no authority to baptize. It is one of the two ordinances of the church, the body of Christ, that being a particular local New Testament church.

Church authority is a point to consider when dealing with questions of the New Testament church. Where does the authority come from? Clearly a straight up answer would be from God. But there is order for the New Testament churches and we are under authority. I'll touch a few points that have been made, not for the sake of argument, but I hope for clarification.

I'm not hoping to anger or insult those of different understanding but this is what I believe. There is a saying that Baptist doctrine s Bible doctrine, and Bible doctrine is Baptist doctrine. It is not just the name that makes one a Baptist in faith and practice. But the name Baptist is an identifying characteristic of faith and practice. 

Many claim to believe the Bible but many do not agree with what the Bible says. Some would think they were Baptist in faith and practice because they think to believe the Bible. Baptist churches are not lost in space, they are visible and accessible for any of a mind to approach them. If one were to leave a Baptist church, and on their own, not by church authority, take people and form a new assembly, but call that assembly a name other than Baptist while claiming to hold the same doctrine, they would have left church authority, an essential part of the matter, out of the new assembly. 

Just as John's baptism was a necessity for the early Christians, so in our day, practically speaking church authority is a necessity. We are not free agents, but are to work under authority. It is not just knowing the doctrine, having the facts, for many sometimes show they have knowledge beyond their wisdom. We are to be doers, not just hearers, and authority is passed along through the churches. There is no new baptism to replace John's, and there is no new church to replace that one Christ Jesus Himself founded while on earth.

Regarding the Lord's Supper I find closed communion agrees with Scripture. There are many different understandings of what the Scriptures have to say about the church and church authority and toward that we need to study to show ourselves approved unto God. Not all rely only on the testimony of Scripture but will instead rely on history or conjecture. The Scripture alone is the only valid rule for faith and practice. My own faith and practice is based on my understanding of Scripture. If one does not agree, and they are insulted and count it rude, I would not find that a reason to change my faith and practice. My faith and practice is according to the dictates of my understanding of Scripture with my conscience purposely being guided by those Scriptures. The Lord's Supper is an ordinance of the local church, and not a fictitious invisible church universal.

A church is an organized body of baptized believers, equal in rank and privilege. Notice I said organized. I recognize the church as having the ministry of the gospel, and the church is given the commission. The church ought to make clear those given responsibility of the ministry of the church. A church ought to have a pastor in charge of the spiritual welfare of the congregation. Everyone ought not be given responsibility to baptize, or to officiate the Lord's Supper, there is to be order in a church with those recognized that have responsibility, that made clear in the church. Those ordinances have to do with the business of the church. 

The local New Testament Churches carry on with the Great Commission, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against God's plan. The New Testament Church Triumphant is promised by our Lord, as He says, I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matt 16:18) There are New Testament Churches, Militant, fighting the battle, going forward for the Lord.

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Christ Died For Our Sins

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