The Nature of the New Testament Church

“The Nature of the New Testament Church”

Ben Bailey

Two thousand years after the institution of the Lord’s church, the ideal pattern for the New Testament church has almost become lost. In a world where an individual can find a denomination that believes and practices almost anything, it has become increasingly difficult to identify the New Testament church. However, simple laws of logic and reasoning tell us that a thing will be made according to its kind. In Genesis chapter one the phrase “according to its kind” or a similar statement occurs 18 times. In this phrase, God is trying to tell us that a creation naturally follows its pattern. For example, birds are not created from monkeys and giraffes do not follow the pattern of a whale. Each creation follows and represents its maker’s pattern. This lesson is extremely important when it comes to the nature and pattern of the New Testament church. When we look to the Bible as the blueprint for the church, we can tell if a church is the church of the New Testament. To identify the Lord’s church in the midst of all this denominational chaos, we must first identify what the church is not.

NOT_a_Building. The Church of Christ is not composed of walls, ceilings, and pews. The bold martyr Stephen proclaimed, “God does not dwell in temples made with hands…” (Acts 7:48-50). Even during the time of the Israelites God did not want his people to trust in the temple. In Jeremiah, the people were crying out “The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord” (Jer. 7:4). Yet, their trust in the building did not save them from the impending Babylonian exile (Jer. 25:9-12). Buildings burn, temples fall, yet the church of the living God will stand forever because it is comprised of individuals. The church of Christ in the New Testament is made up of people, not 2 X 4’s ( 1Cor. 12:27). May we never let our sanctuary become our cemetery. The Church of Christ is not a building.

Not_a_Denomination. The word denomination by its very definition is in direct contradiction with the New Testament pattern. Denomination means to call by or name something after another. In the New Testament, the idea of naming the church after a person other than Christ is strongly condemned. Paul said to the Corinthians, “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10). In this context, Paul is dealing with the root problem of denominationalism. Some were saying, “ I am of Paul, or I am Apollos, or I am of Cephas” (1 Cor. 1:12). Paul points out that denomination is division by asking them, “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or, were you baptized in the name of Paul” (1 Cor. 1:13)? For anyone who desires to have a church named after them, Paul sets down two simple criteria. First, one must be crucified as a sinless sacrifice for his followers. No person on earth today can serve as a sinless sacrifice (Heb. 10:12,Rom. 3:23). Second, the leader of any group must have the God given authority to command baptism in his name. In the New Testament there is no authority for baptizing into any man’s name, except Christ (Matt. 28:18-20). Therefore, denominationalism violates the pattern of the New Testament church. The Church of Christ is not a denomination.

Not a Social Club. To many people, the church is nothing more than a glorified social club. It is a place to dress exquisitely for and be seen rubbing elbows with the elite of society. For some, going to church is nothing more than a good public relations move. It is very interesting to note just how faithful candidates for political office become around election time. The Jews had the mindset that their religion could be used for social purposes, but Jesus strongly rebuked them. Jesus condemned the Jews because they wore elaborate clothing, loved the best seats, and the cleric title “rabbi” (Matt. 23:1-12). This same rebuke is true to those who today who want to make the church into nothing more than a modern day civic club. To understand that the church is not a social club, we need to realize that we are not the center of worship. God is the center of our worship and we must make him the focus of our worship services, not ourselves (Jn. 4:24).

Not_an_Afterthought. With the recent rise in premillenial fiction books such as “Left Behind” and others, the church is being looked at more as an afterthought, than an original plan. Many in the premillenial camp believe that God planned to set up a 1000 year reign on earth, but His plan was thwarted and the church was created as an afterthought until the original plan could be set up. While this may be an attractive view to many, the Bible teaches the church has always been God’s original plan. Paul said God was making his power known to princes and principalities through the church, which was “according to the eternal purpose” (Eph. 3:10-11). This passage clearly teaches that the church has been in the mind and plan of God from all eternity. The church is much more than an afterthought. It is the forethought and divine plan of God that will last until Christ comes to receive it unto Himself (1 Cor. 15:24, Matt. 16:18-19).

The church of Christ was never meant to be a club for the elite of society and it definitely was not quick fix in the mess-up of God’s plans. Is the church that you are going to a more of a social club than a place of worship to God? Does the church you attend focus its religion around the building more than the people? If so, then it is high time to return to the pattern of the New Testament Church.

THE TRUE NATURE OF THE CHURCH

If a group of people on an unknown island found a Bible, read it and decided to do exactly what it said, what church would they set up? These people would not be able to set up many of the denominations we have today because they have no knowledge of the restoration or reformation movements that occurred in our country. Their only safe option would be to try and establish the church of the first century, and nothing more. Let us consider two characteristics needed to set up the New Testament church.

The Established Period. The Bible tells us exactly when the church of the Lord would be established. In Daniel 2:44, we are told that in the time of the fourth kingdom God would set up a kingdom which would never be destroyed. Beginning with the time of Daniel in Babylonian rule and going through the Medo-Persian, and Grecian empires there was no new kingdom set up. God’s people were still under the Old Covenant kingdom. But, in the time of the fourth kingdom (the Roman empire) God did establish a new kingdom. Jesus promised He would build His kingdom, which is the church (Matt. 16:18-19). On the day of Pentecost the preaching of the gospel opened up the “new” kingdom and the Bible says, “The Lord added to the church daily… (Acts 2:47). From this information we can learn that the church of the Bible was established on the day of Pentecost in A.D. 30. This is very important to note because most modern man-made denominations began between 1500-1800 A. D. Most modern churches were established 1500 years too late. If the church you are a part of was established some other time than A. D. 30, it is not the church of the New Testament.

The Established Place. The Bible also tells us where the church of the Lord would be established. In Isa. 2:1-4, God promised that the “Lord’s house” would be established in Zion, which in context is Jerusalem. It is very important to note that Isaiah cannot be talking about the Old Testament Temple because it was still in existence during the time of Isaiah’s writing. What is this “house of the Lord” that Isaiah is speaking about? This phrase refers to the church of the Lord. In 1 Tim. 3:15 the Bible says that the “house of the Lord…is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth.” In Jerusalem, on the day of Pentecost, the Lord’s church was established when we are told for the first time “the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:38-47). Did the church you are a part of begin in Jerusalem or somewhere else? Please remember that most denominations in existence today began in either the America’s or England.

The Establisher of the Church. Jesus Christ is the sole founder and builder of the church. Paul said that He could be the only foundation. “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11). Jesus Himself promised he would be the builder of the church. “I will build My church…” (Matt. 16:18). The New Testament teaches that Jesus is the owner of the church. “…the church of the Lord, which He purchases with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). Today, Jesus is still the head of the New Testament church. “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church…” (Eph. 1:21-23). In matters of doctrine, Jesus has all authority in His church. “All authority has been given to Me on Heaven and on Earth” (Matt. 28:18-20). Since the church is the bride of the Lord (Eph. 5:21-31), it should wear the name of her husband—Jesus Christ. All of these passages and principles come together to teach us that the church belongs solely to Jesus and it should follow His direction and wear His name. The implication is that it is sinful for men to come along thousands of years later and name the church after some man and make up creeds for it to follow. If we are going to be members of the Lord’s church we had better wear His name and follow His teaching.

It is the Christian’s God-given responsibility to “prove all things” (1 Thes. 5:21). Let me encourage you to take this challenge. After reading the Scriptures found in this article, go and find out who established your church. Also, find out why the church you are a part of wears some other name than the name of Christ. If you church was established by any other person than Jesus and wears a man-made not God-given name then it can not be the church of the New Testament.