Download - © John Stevenson, 2012 The Church. Matthew 16:13-15 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed

© John Stevenson, 2012

The Church

Matthew 16:13-15Matthew 16:13-15Simon Peter answered, “You are

the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”

EkklesiaEkklesia• Ek: “Out of”

• Kaleo: “To call”

I will tell of Your name to my brethren; I will tell of Your name to my brethren; In the midst of the In the midst of the assemblyassembly I will praise I will praise You. (Psalm 22:22)You. (Psalm 22:22)

Bless God in the Bless God in the congregationscongregations,,Even Even the LORD, the LORD, you who are you who are of the of the fountain of Israel. (Psalm 68:26).fountain of Israel. (Psalm 68:26).

Then Moses spoke in the hearing Then Moses spoke in the hearing of all the of all the assemblyassembly of Israel the words of Israel the words of this song, until they were complete of this song, until they were complete (Deuteronomy 31:30).(Deuteronomy 31:30).

Paul, called Paul, called as as an apostle of Jesus Christ by an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 22 To the To the churchchurch of God which is at Corinth, of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ to those who have been sanctified in Christ

Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Christ, their Lord Lord and ours (1 Corinthians and ours (1 Corinthians

1:1-2).1:1-2).

And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness

of Him who fills all in all.(Ephesians 1:22-23).

• Acts 9:31 tells us how Acts 9:31 tells us how the the churchchurch throughout all Judea and Galilee and throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peaceSamaria enjoyed peace..

• The Jerusalem Church was of a size that The Jerusalem Church was of a size that made it obvious that it met as a number of made it obvious that it met as a number of congregations, yet it is described in the congregations, yet it is described in the Bible as a single church.Bible as a single church.

• There is only One Church: There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling (Ephesians 4:4).

• Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church: For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body (Ephesians 5:23); He is also head of the body, the church... (Colossians 1:18).

• The Church is Holy: Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

• Every Believer is a Priest of God.

...you also, as living stones, are being ...you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5)(1 Peter 2:5)..


But you are a chosen race, a royal But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9)His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9)..


• The Mandate of the Church is to make Disciples.

Go therefore and make disciples of all Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Spirit, 2020 teaching them to observe all teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20)(Matthew 28:19-20)..

Fuller says that “the basic Fuller says that “the basic premise of Dispensationalism premise of Dispensationalism

is two purposes of God is two purposes of God expressed in the formation of expressed in the formation of

two peoples who maintain two peoples who maintain their distinction throughout their distinction throughout eternity.” (Charles Ryrie, eternity.” (Charles Ryrie,

Dispensationalism Today, Dispensationalism Today, Pages 44-45, citing Fuller’s Pages 44-45, citing Fuller’s

Doctoral Dissertation).Doctoral Dissertation).

The Plan and The Plan and Purpose of GodPurpose of God

• Dispensationalism teaches that God has two separate plans and two separate and distinct peoples through whom He works, Israel and the Church

“those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7).

The LawThe Law

• Dispensationalism says that the Mosaic Law is done away in Christ.

• Dispensational views on the Sermon on the Mount.

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not

come to abolish, but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17).

The Nature of the The Nature of the ChurchChurch

• Dispensationalism sees the church as a parenthesis, a temporary situation lying between God’s two dealings with Israel.

“…to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God,

who created all things; in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the

church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places”

(Ephesians 3:9-10).

Old Testament Old Testament PromisesPromises

• Dispensationalism says that all of the promises given in the Old Testament must be fulfilled to a political nation of Israel.

“ “they are not all Israel who are they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel” (Romans descended from Israel” (Romans

9:6).9:6).

NationalNationalIsraelIsrael

TrueTrueIsraelIsrael

NationalNationalIsraelIsrael

TrueTrueIsraelIsrael

ChurchChurch(True(TrueIsrael)Israel)NationalNational

IsraelIsrael

Two Future Comings Two Future Comings of Christof Christ

• Dispensationalism teaches that Christ will return to the earth is a secret “Rapture” in which all believers will be removed from the earth. This is later followed by the “Second Coming of Christ” which is a distinct and separate event.

DispensationalismDispensationalism

Stresses “literal” interpretation of the

Bible

Covenant TheologyCovenant Theology

Accepts both literal and figurative

(spiritual) interpretation of the Bible

“Israel” always means only the literal,

physical descendants of Jacob

“Israel” may mean either physical

descendants of Jacob, or spiritual Israel,

depending on context

DispensationalismDispensationalism Covenant TheologyCovenant Theology

“Israel of God” in Galatians 6:16 means physical Israel alone

“Israel of God” in Galatians 6:16 means spiritual Israel, parallel

to Gal. 3:29; Rom. 2:28-29; 9:6; Phil. 3:3.

God has 2 peoples with 2 separate destinies: Israel (earthly) and the

Church (heavenly).

God has one covenant people. Those in this age have become a

part of God’s continuing covenant

people.


All Old Testament prophecies for “Israel”

are only for the physical nation of Israel, not for the

Church

Some Old Testament prophecies are for

national Israel, others for spiritual Israel

The Church is a parenthesis in God's program for the ages

The Church is the culmination of God's

saving purpose for the ages


The main heir to Abraham’s covenant was Isaac and literal

Israel

The main heir to Abraham’s covenant was Christ, the Seed,

and spiritual Israel which is “in Christ”

Dispensationalism sees…Dispensationalism sees…• Two future comings of Christ (or Two future comings of Christ (or

in some cases, three).in some cases, three).

• Multiple future judgments in which Multiple future judgments in which people shall come before Christ to people shall come before Christ to be judged.be judged.

• Multiple future days of the Lord.Multiple future days of the Lord.

Download - © John Stevenson, 2012 The Church. Matthew 16:13-15 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed

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