026. Church in the Mind of Christ

026. Church in the Mind of Christ

26 CHURCH IN THE MIND OF CHRIST

INTRODUCTION Christianity implies church as "citizen" implies state. No kingdom without a king; no Christian without a church.

I. ETERNAL PURPOSE OF GOD 1. Church in eternal purpose of God. (Ephesians 3:10-11.) 2. Christ fulfilled that purpose.

3. A new community in mind of Christ.

II. "ECCLESIA " THE NEW ISRAEL 1. Jewish kingdom , the people of God.

2. Universal mission of Israel.

3. Israel to be saved through the remnant. (Isaiah 37:32.) 4. His disciples the nucleus. (Luke 22:28-30.) III. WORK OF JOHN THE BAPTIST 1. A new kind of baptism.

2. Old Israel to be rejected. (Matthew 3:9; Luke 3:8.) 3. New Israel to be new way of life.

4. John gathered disciples .

5. Jesus’ first disciples from John’s.

IV. "THE LITTLE FLOCK"

1. "The little flock" to receive the kingdom . (Luke 12:32; Luke 22:29-30.) 2. "The little flock" not composed of all Israel. (Micah 4:4-7.) 3. The remnant to return to God. (Isaiah 37:32.) 4. "The little fiock" the saved remnant.

5. The apostles become the nucle us of it.

V. CHRlST’S USE OF TERM "CHURCH"

1. Very few uses of the word.

2. Only two instances:

(a) Matthew 16:18. (b) Matthew 18:17.

3. Matthew uses "kingdom" more than all others.

4. He alone records the use of the word "church. "