Review of: “According to the Pattern”

Review of: “According to the Pattern” • A Pattern: “Anything designed for a guide or model, or worthy of imitation.” • God always required His followers to follow His pattern (cf. Ark, Tabernacle, Temple). • God gave us a pattern to follow; I Peter 4:11; 2 John 9; Revelation 22:18-19.

God Has a Pattern for: • The Name we wear religiously. • The Law we ought to follow. • How to become members of Christ’s church. • The kind of Music God wants. • “The items of worship.” • The organization of the church. • How we ought to live. • How we ought to feel toward each other.

The Mission of the Church—What it is Not • Note: The issue is, what, in keeping with God’s pattern, is the mission or work of the church? • Regarding this subject, there is much confusion and misunderstanding. • To help eliminate confusion, we shall first consider what the mission of the church is not!

“Church” used in two senses: • The Universal Sense • Matt. 16:18, “…upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates hell shall not prevail against it. • Heb. 12:23, “To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the souls of just men made perfect.” • The Local Sense: • I Cor. 1:2, “unto the church of God which is at Corinth….. “ cf. Rev. 1:9-11

“Church” As usedIn the Universal Sense: • Refers to a relationship which certain people sustain with Jesus Christ. • Refers to all “saved” people, whose names are “written in heaven,” Heb. 12. • When Jesus said “upon this rock I will build My church,” He was not referring to a specific local church. • “Church” from ekklesia, the called out. • Has no earthly headquarters, no living officers, or brotherhood treasury.

“Church” As usedIn the Local Sense: • I Cor. 1:1-2; I Thess. 1:1; Revelation 1:9-11. • Consists of a plurality of people who have been “called” by the gospel, 2 Thess. 2:14, who reside in a general geographic location. • People who have banded together to work, worship, and function as a local church. • When fully organized, it consists of saints, bishops, and deacons, Phil. 1:1. • It has a treasury provided by the joint laying by in store on the part of its members.

The Nature of the Church It is Spiritual in nature! • It consists of those who have been “bornagain,” John 3:3-5; Acts 2:37-38,47. • It consists of those who have been begotten by that spiritual “seed,” the word of God, Luke 8:11; James 1:18; I Peter 1:18-19,23. • Its members enjoy “all spiritual blessings” in Christ, Eph. 1:3. • It is a “spiritual house,” I Peter 2:5. • Members anticipate a spiritual home, 2 Cor. 5:1-4; Phil. 3:20-21.

An Important Fact: • The nature of what the church does must be in keeping with the nature of what the church is! • Its members are Christians; their lives must reflect that fact! Matt. 5:14-16; Phil. 2:15. • It is a “spiritual house,” I Pet. 2:5. indwelt by “the Spirit of God,” I Cor. 3:16, purchased by the blood of Christ, Acts 20:28, headed by Christ, Col. 1:18, conceived in the mind of God, Eph. 3:8-11, and directed by His word!

The Mission of the churchIs Not: • To Operate like a Secular Business! • Economic in Nature. I Cor. 16:1-2. • Educational (in terms of human wisdom). I Cor. 1:20-21; I Thess. 1:7-8 • Political. John 18:36 • Social and Recreational. Rom. 14:17; I Cor. 11:22-34; John 6:44-45; 2 Thess. 2:14; Romans 1:16.

Conclusion: We must let the church be the church, nothing more or less! “The church” in the local sense must concentrate on doing the work of the church – the work God authorizes it to do! “The church,” in Bible days, consisted of “the saved,” Acts 2:47. Are you saved?

Review of: “According to the Pattern”