Who's Membership Is It?
God is a God of patterns
The Tabernacle is a type and picture of a New Testament church:Acts 7:37-38 Church in the wilderness * Ekklesia= called out assemblyHebrews 8:2-6 Tabernacle is our exampleNumbers 2* Told where to live* Why?* Teach order, obedience, and servitude* They are not their own
God’s purpose for man:
1 Timothy 2:3-4 Saved and come to the knowledge of the truth* God has no plan for man to just be saved* Saved, then come to the knowledge of the truth* Why?1 Timothy 3:15 Know how we ought to behave ourselves* Why?Leviticus 26:2-3 Reverence my sanctuary* Why?* Walk in my statutes and keep my commandments -Why?* Why? God wants man to be in fellowship with God1 John 1:3-7 That your joy may be full* Fellowship with us- the Trinity* A man cannot be in fellowship with God if he has sin in his life* No matter what the sin is1 John 3:4 Sin is the transgression of the law* Transgression is to pass beyond, or over limits* Why? God wants man to be a part of the Bride of ChristRevelation 21:23-27 Who, of the saved, goes into the city?* Only those whose names are found written in the Lamb’s Book of LifeRevelation 22:1-5 New City JerusalemRevelation 22:11-17 I come quickly and my reward is with me* When Christ comes he brings his reward with him* Verse. 14: They might have the right* Not all have the right. Why?* Verse 15: Dogs, sorcerers, etc…* Saved, who for some reason had not the right. Why?* Somewhere in their life they chose not to have fellowship with the Lord* Verse 16, 17: The angels (preachers, messengers) came to teach them how to overcome- to have the right to enter into the city* Whosoever will- why not all? Choice
Whose church is it anyway?
Matthew 16:18, 19 I will build* Christ built his church* Christ gave his church the keys to the kingdom- keys are authorityActs 20:28 His church was purchased with his own blood* Jesus shed his blood for man’s soul as well as for a place for man to be in fellowship with God* Remember God’s plan for man?Ephesians 2:19-22 Built upon the foundationEphesians 4:1-5 One Lord, one Faith, one baptism* That Faith is a system of doctrines and teaching- one- Why?Ephesians 4:11-32 Till we all come in the unity of the Faith* Why?* Perfecting of the saints= equals equipping the body of Christ* Why? That we be no longer children tossed about by every wind of doctrine* Why? Vs. 16 whole body fitly joined together* Why all the instruction?Colossians 1:17, 18 - Head of the Body* Christ is the head of the body* Not the membership1 Corinthians 3:9-17 - Take heed how he buildeth thereupon* Christ laid the foundation1 Cor. 10:31, 32 - Whatsoever ye do* Give none offence… nor to the church of God2 Cor. 6:3 - Ministry be not blamed* Why? Matthew 28:18-20 - All power is given unto me* Christ has all power- the church does not* The doctrines that are to be taught and practiced are Christ’s* The church is to teach- salvation, baptism, then teach the all things (which equals doctrines)* Christ is not with a church in everything she does or decides* Vs. 20 alway- not always
Who does the adding?
Acts 2:47 - Lord adds1 Cor. 12:18 - Set the members everyone in the body* So if Christ told Israel where to live, where to move…* If the tabernacle is a type and picture of a New Testament church…* If Christ started his church, gave her the doctrines to follow and teach…* If he shed his own blood for her* If he warned man about taking away from those teachings and practices…* If Christ chooses his bride based on his teaching and practices and how they were followed…
Whose church is it?
Acts 20:28-30 - Why warn about wolves?Jude - Why warn?* The church is who is warned2 Peter 2:1-22 - Why warn about false teachers?* Who were warned?* If it is Christ’s church, Christ’s (God’s) teaching, if Christ is the head…* Why would the membership not be God’s?Colossians 1:17-18 - He might have the preeminence* All things consist by and for Christ* He is the head of the body* In all things he might have the preeminenceColossians 1:19-23 - Reconcile all things unto himself* His church, his doctrine, his bride…* But, your membership?* That does not follow after the pattern of the scripture
Why is church discipline taught in the scriptures?
* Does God care what happens to man?* Does God care about doctrines taught and practiced?* Does God care about his church?* Does God care about where a man goes to church?Romans 16:1, 2 - Servant of Christ at Cenchrea* Why did Phebe need a letter to Rome?* If it was her membership, why did she receive a letter?* Why would God add a member to a body if that membership belonged to the person and they could do with it what they wanted to do?