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Acts 2:42--"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship." Cf. "On this rock I will build my church" (Matt.
16:16-18); also Eph. 2:20.
6. CHARACTERISTICS OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE EARLY CHURCH.
The members were known as believers (Acts 4:32); brethren (11:29; 12:17; Rom. 1:13--the absolute equality of all believers, cf. Matt.
23:8-10); Christians (Acts 11:26; 26:28); saints (9:13; 1 Cor. 1:2; Rev. 13:7); elect (Mark 13:27; Rom. 8:33; Eph. 1:4).
IV. FIGURES UNDER WHICH THE CHURCH IS SET FORTH IN THE SCRIPTURES.
1. THE BODY, OF WHICH CHRIST IS THE HEAD.
Two ideas are contained in this symbol:
a) The Relation of the Church to Christ, Who Is Its Head.
Eph. 1:22, 23; Col. 1:18; 2:19. The Church is an organism, not an organization. There is a vital relation between Christ and the Church, both partaking of the same life, just as there is between the physical head and the body. We cannot join the Church as we would a lodge or any mere human organization. We must be partakers by faith of Christ's life before we can become members of Christ's Church, in the true sense. As the Head of the Church Christ is its Guardian and Director (Eph. 5:23, 24); the Source of its life, filling it with His fulness (Eph. 1:23); the Centre of its Unity and the Cause of its growth (Eph. 4:15; Col. 2:19).
b) The Relation of the Members One to Another.
1 Cor. 12:12-27; Rom. 12:4, 5; Eph. 4:1-4, 15,16.
2. A TEMPLE, A BUILDING, A HABITATION, A DWELLING-PLACE FOR G.o.d'S SPIRIT.
Eph. 2:20, 21; 1 Cor. 3:9-17; 1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Pet. 2:4-8; Rev. 21:3; 1 Cor. 6:19. Of this building Christ is the cornerstone, and the prophets and apostles the foundation. In 1 Cor. 3 Christ is the chief cornerstone and the apostles the builders; the whole building is held in place by Christ.
3. THE BRIDE OF CHRIST.
2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:25-27; Rev. 19:7; 22:17. Christ is the Bridegroom (John 3:29). This is a great mystery (Eph. 5:32). The Bride becomes the wife of the Lamb (Rev. 21:2).
V. THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH.
1. BAPTISM.
Matt. 28:19, 20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38, 41; 8:36-40; 10:47, 48.
2. THE LORD'S SUPPER.
Acts 2:42, 46; 20:7--"And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight." 1 Cor. 11:20-34.
VI. THE VOCATION OF THE CHURCH.
1. TO WORSHIP G.o.d AND TO GLORIFY HIM ON THE EARTH:
Eph. 1:4-6--"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. To the praise of the glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."
2. TO EVANGELIZE THE WORLD WITH THE GOSPEL:
Matt. 28:19, 20--"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2; 5:42; 6:5-8; Eph. 3:8; Acts 15:7.
3. TO DEVELOP EACH INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN UNTIL HE ATTAINS UNTO THE FULNESS OF THE STATURE OF CHRIST:
Eph. 4:11-15. Hence the gift of pastors, teachers, etc. Herein lies the value of church attendance--it promotes growth; failure to attend leads to apostasy (Heb. 10:25-28), cf. 1 Thess. 5:11; 1 Cor. 12.
4. A CONSTANT WITNESS FOR CHRIST AND HIS WORD:
Acts 1:8--"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." 8:1, 4.
5. THE FUTURE GLORY OF THE CHURCH:
Eph. 3:10, 21; Eev. 7:9-17.
THE DOCTRINE OF THE SCRIPTURES.
I. NAMES AND t.i.tLES.
1. THE BIBLE.
2. THE TESTAMENTS.
3. THE SCRIPTURES.
4. THE WORD OF G.o.d.
II. INSPIRATION.
1. DEFINITION.
2. DISTINCTIONS.
a) Revelation.
b) Illumination.
c) Reporting.
3. VIEWS: a) Natural Inspiration.
b) Christian Illumination.
c) Dynamic Theory.
d) Concept Theory.
e) Verbal Inspiration.
f) Partial Inspiration.
g) Plenary Inspiration.
4. THE CLAIMS OF THE SCRIPTURES THEMSELVES: a) The Old Testament.
b) The New Testament.
5. THE CHARACTER (OR DEGREES) OF INSPIRATION.
a) Actual Words of G.o.d Himself.
b) Actual Words Communicated by G.o.d to Men.
e) Individual Freedom in Choice of Words--To What Extent?
