The church of the New Covenant Matthew 16.13-20
Design
- by Jesus, Son of God, Himself (Mt16.13-20) [faith community - 18.17]
- Purchased with His Blood (Ax20.28) / Savior of the body (Eph5.23-27)
- God's eternal plan, fulfilled & proclaimed to the universe (Eph3.10&11)!
Q: Is the church man-made / a product of human imagination?
Beginning
- When Jesus was first proclaimed as Master and Messiah - 3K submit (Ax2.41)
- growing and active from here on (17x in Acts / ch5... / 9.31)
Q: Does the church need restored or restarted again in history?
Figures
- the kingdom (Mt16.19) - the Lord is King
- the body (Eph1.22&23) - Christ is Head / bride (Rev19.7) - Jesus is Groom
- the family (1Tim3.15 / Heb3.6) - God is Father, Christ our Brother (Rom8.29)
Q: Is the church of the Lord a denomination? a piece of 'Christendom?'
Scope
- Universal - One (Mt16.18 / Eph4.4)
- Local - Many (Rom16.16 / Gal1.2)
- Assembly - Often (1Cor11.18 / Heb10.25)
Q: Do we speak of 'going to church?' or are we the church going to the meeting place?
Organization
- One Head - of universal body (Eph1.22 / Col1.18)
- appointed leaders - of local group (Ax14.23 / Tit1.5)
- servants / brothers (Phil1.1)
Q: Does the church have national or regional / legal or business organization?
Name
- of Christ / of God - by ownership (Rom16.16 / 1Cor11.22)
- of just men - by constituents (1Cor14.33 / Heb12.23)
- of (city / area) - by location (Rom16.1 / 1Cor1.2)
Q: Are we His church by call ourselves so? or by living so?
Doctrine
- Not produced by the church but the church produced by truth (Jn17.17)
- The teaching is 'of Christ' - from Him and about Him (2Jn9)
- the same "everywhere in every church" (1Cor4.16 / 11.16 / 14.33)
Q: Do we need to formulate creeds or catechisms to establish our doctrine?
Work
- worship (Lk24.52 / Ax1.14 / 2.42 / 1Pet2.9) > assemblies for praise
- preaching (Mt28.19 / Ax8.4 / 1Tim3.15) > evangelism & studies
- serving (Rom12.6-13 / 2Cor9.12 / Eph4.12) > benevolence
Q: Is my involvement/engagement with the church optional or essential?
Light
- as a city set on a hill (Mt5.14) / witness to the world (Jn13.35)
- how we should behave in God's family, the church (1Tim3.15)
- Glory be to God in the church and through Christ Jesus forever (Eph3.21)!
Q: Does my daily behavior as a saint contribute positively to the cause of Christ?