THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

THE BODY OF CHRIST

Matthew 16:18; Eph.1:22,23

PREDICTED BY THE PROPHETS Who were these men?▪ They were seers, men of God, and carried by the

Holy Spirit (I Peter 1:20,21) What did they see and tell?▪ Isaiah – All nations would flow into this kingdom

(Is.2:1-4)▪ Daniel – Established by God and eternal kingdom

(Dan.2:44)▪ Joel – Beginning & growth by the power of the Holy

Spirit (Joel 2:29f)

THE BODY IS THE CHURCH

PROMISED BY JESUS The kingdom of God▪ To the multitude▪ “Many will not taste death…kingdom of God coming with

power” (Mk.9:1) The New Testament church▪ To the apostles▪ I will build My church…Hades will not prevail against it”

(Matt.16:18) The Power of the Holy Spirit▪ To the apostles▪ He would come, guide and deliver all truth (Jn.14:26;

16:13; Lk.24:49)

THE BODY IS THE CHURCH

PRESENTED AT PENTECOST AND BEYOND In the book of Acts▪ Power of Holy Spirit ▪ Apostles were fill and guided by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-21)

▪ Powerful message▪ Christ crucified as both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36)

▪ Powerful response▪ About three thousand souls were baptized into Christ (Acts 2:41)

▪ Powerful commitment▪ Continued in the apostles doctrine…from house to house…Lord added to

the church (Acts 2:42-27) In the epistle ▪ The church is identified – As the body of Jesus Christ

(Eph.1:22f)▪ The church is singular – It is the one body of Christ

(Rom.12:5)

THE BODY IS THE CHURCH

THE BODY HAS ONE HEAD

JESUS DECLARED HIS AUTHORITY During His ministry▪ Leading to the cross▪ Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No

one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jn.14:6)

After His resurrection▪ In an appearance to the apostles▪ Jesus instructed, “All authority is given to Me in heaven

and on earth” (Matt.28:18)

JESUS DEMONSTRATED DIVINE AUTHORITY By who He was▪ He was God on the earth ▪ Jesus was Deity in the flesh (Jn.1:1; 1:14)

By what He taught▪ He taught them as One having authority ▪ Jesus’ teaching were not at all like the Scribes

(Matt.7:28,29) By His abilities to work the works of God▪ Jesus preformed many miracles ▪ By the power of the Holy Spirit (Matt.12:22-32; Jn.21:25)

THE BODY HAS ONE HEAD

JESUS DESERVES ALL AUTHORITY His authority was recognized▪ By Nicodemus▪ He said, “No man can do these things unless God is with

Him (Jn.3:2) His authority was earned▪ Jesus owns the church▪ He “purchased the church with His blood” (Acts 20:28; I

Cor.6:19,20) His authority was appointed▪ Divine appointment▪ God has made Jesus head over all things to the church,

which is His body…” (Eph.1:22,23)

THE BODY HAS ONE HEAD

THE BODY MUST WORK WE HAVE BEEN CREATE TO WORK

We have been created by God▪ Every good thing is from God (James 1:17)▪ The origin of man - GOD (Gen.1:1ff; Jn.1:1-4; Heb.1:1-4)

We have been created after God▪ After the very image of God▪ With a living and eternal soul (Gen.1:22,27; 2:7)

We have been created for God▪ We do not exist for the purpose of self▪ But for God’s good pleasure and His works (Eph.2:10)

WE ARE CHARGED WITH THE GOSPEL The gospel is powerful▪ “It is the power of God unto salvation” (Rom.1:16)▪ It is “able to make one wise unto salvation” (II

Tim.3:15) The gospel is truth▪ “Sanctify them by thy truth, thy Word is truth (Jn.17:17)

The gospel is in our hands▪ We are the “pillar and ground of the truth” (I Tim.3:14f)▪ We are the “earthen vessels” (II Cor.4:7)

THE BODY MUST WORK

WE ARE COMMANDED TO GO Universally there is work to do▪ The Great Commission▪ China, Russia, Africa, New Zealand… (Matt.28:19,20)

Locally there are souls to reach▪ The local commission▪ Media, Carlisle, Pottstown, Johnstown, Indiana, Williamsport…

(II Tim.2:2) GOD SEEN AND KNOWS OUR WORKS

God sees all thing▪ Nothing is hidden from our God (Heb.4:13)

God will call our works into judgment▪ Words and deeds (II Cor.5:10)

THE BODY MUST WORK

THE BODY WILL BE DELIVERED

THERE IS A JUDGMENT DAY COMING The earth will not stand forever▪ Second Law of Thermodynamics▪ The earth is “winding down” (Heb.1:10-12)

▪ When Jesus returns▪ This earth will be destroyed (I Jn.2:15-17; II Pet.3:10-13)

The Judgment will take place▪ No one will be left out▪ Every person will stand before God (Rom.14:11,12)

▪ Nothing will be concealed▪ Every thing will come out (Rom.2:16; II Cor.5:10)

THERE IS A JUDGMENT DAY COMING The rewards will be given out▪ For the lost▪ Those of the world, religious people and erring brethren (II

Thess.1:7-9; Matt.7:21,23; Matt.25:31-46) They will be condemned to an ETERNAL HELL (Matt.25:46)

▪ For the saved▪ The kingdom will be delivered up – back unto the Father (I

Cor.15:24) They will be granted entrance into HEAVEN for an ETERNAL

SALVATION (Rev.21:1-4)

THE BODY WILL BE DELIVERED