04 I. Characteristics of the New Testament Church
I. Characteristics of the New Testament Church I. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH (Sermon Delivered Over WAPO, April 14, 1940)
Today we are beginning a series of sermons tracing the course of church history from the apostolic age down to the present. No study should be more profitable than a careful considerationofthe facts of church history enabling us thereby to have greater insight into the present religious conditions of the world. Especially should we be interested in comparing our present situation with the New Testament example and noting the many changes which nineteen centuries have brought in the teachings of professed followers of Jesus.
Facts are the only things that shall have place in this study. We are not interested in accomplishing anything other than a careful, correct presentation of the movements of religious thought and doctrines through the centuries, so that all may understand the causes of present denominationalism. Every effort shall be made to deal with the issues and display the truth with regard to the teachings of Jesus. What is commonly called the scientific attitude, that of interpreting the facts which present themselves without bias and prejudice, shall be our attitude. Our Lord Jesus Christ came into this world to accomplish certain very definite things. These are expressly indicated in the Scriptures so that all doubt with regard to His ministry might be dispelled. He came that He might destroy the works of the devil, (1) putting down the dominion of sin over the lives of men. He came to seek and save the lost (1 John 3:8), (2) and become the Way, the Truth, and the Life unto all mankind (Luke 19:10). (3) He came in fulfillment of prophecy that He might likewise fulfill the law of Moses and institute in its stead a new covenant founded upon better promises, and extending until the end of the world (John 14:6). (4) These facts bring very clearly to view just what our Lord sought to do in Hii earthly ministry (Matthew 6:17). The burden of His teachings were regarding the establishment and descriptionofthe characteristics of His kingdom upon the earth. The many parables found in Matthew, beginning with chapter 13. as well as in the other gospel writings, show how diligently Jesus taught the truths regarding the kingdom of Heaven. InMatthew 16:8, Jesus told His disciples that He would build His church upon the great truth that Peter had confessed, namely, the fact that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God. In that passage He used the terms "church” and “kingdom" interchangeably to signify that they were identical. The church simply means the group of people who have been called out of the world and to Christ. Paul speaks of our translation as that from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son. (Colossians 1:18) Thus Jesus during His personal ministry continually taught and prepared for the establishment of His church, His spiritual kingdom. He made it very clear that this kingdom would not be worldly, nor would it exercise political sovereignty over the multitudes of earth. He stated that His "kingdom was not of this world." (John 18:36)
Twelve men were selected by the Master to be His special disciples, following Him through the three and one-half years of personal ministry and being witnesses to His sufferings and death as well as His resurrection. He instructed them in order that they might properly represent Him and His teachings to future generations. However, knowing the limitations of human memory and our proneness to err, Jesus promised that these apostles would be guided from Heaven so that no mistake could be made in proclaiming the great doctrine of Christianity and the plan of salvation. In John 16:12-14 He said, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you." Their work and teaching was to be the pattern for all the ages to come. If we want to know today what the Lord would have us do in rendering humble and obedient service, we can find it by going to the spirit-guided writings of these representatives of the Lord. Thus the New Testament becomes our guide, our pattern in all matters of Christian faith and practice.
Before leaving His disciples Jesus prayed earnestly for unity among His followers, unity based upon the testimony of these very men. (John 17:20-23) Isn’t it a sad condition when we note the earnest prayer of the Lord and contrast the divided and confused state of affairs among those who profess to follow Christ? I cannot believe, I will not believet, that Our Blessed Lord is responsible for the present confused conditions, nor do I believe that He is pleased with our parties and our divisions. Any effort to justify the religious division in the world from the Scriptures is a perversion of them and makes the Bible contradict itself, which, of course it does not do. It is rather the creeds, doctrines and opinions of men which divide the world and keep it divided. It is Christ and His will which unites men and which will bring an end to the partyism today.
After our Lord’s resurrection from the grave he appeared unto His disciples in Galilee and said unto them, "All authority is given unto me in heaven and on earth." Then the Great Commission was given to preach the gospel to the whole world. (Matthew 28:18-20) Luke adds that the disciples were to wait until the power should come from on high to guide them. (Luke 24:46-49) If we carefully note the works of these Apostles we shall be able to find out what New Testament Christianity was, and what the Lord wants us to do. We need to rebuild upon the New Testament pattern, for the only way we can have the unity for which our Lord prayed so earnestly is to come back to the word of God and rightly dividing it to follow implicitly the New Testament teachings.
Let us very briefly note some characteriatica, therefore, of the early church. It waa established in the world on the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit-guided apoatlea led by Peter preached the facts and gave the commands of the gospel of Christ for the first time , So far as the Bible reveals, this is the very first occasion where the wonderful redemption through Jesus the Christ waa proclaimed. Here Peter, in answer to the question, "Men and Brethren, what shall we do?" and, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38) Three thousand souls were baptized and added to them, and then the first congregation of believers in Christ, baptized into Christ, was established.
First, let us notice the terms of admission into the church. The termS of admission into the New Testament church are very clearly revealed, for these terms are the terms of salvation. Every case of conversion in the New Testament will show the working of these principles, for God is no respecter of persons, and there is but one gospel to proclaim . (Galatians 1:6-12) The gospel is God’ a power to aave the sou la of men, and so far as the Bible reveals, God’s only power. In New Testament times people heard the preaching of the word of God, with its facts showing the sinfulness of men, the righteousness of God through the gospel, and the judgment to come. Faith is based upon the hearing of God’s word (Romans 10:17) without which no one could be well pleasing in the sight of the Almighty. (Hebrews 11:6) An individual must have enough faith to turn from evil and toward good, or as we aay, he must repent. (Luke 13:2) No fact is more clearly taught in the Bible than the absolute necessity of repentance in order to be saved. In New Testament times an individual was not a fit subject for baptism until he had confesaed with the mouth hia faith in the Lord Jeaua Christ . ( Romans 10:10; Acts 8:37), Having made such a confession, the final step which placed one in Christ waa baptism, for aaya Paul in Galatians 3:27, "As many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ," Baptism, a burial in water of a penitent believer for the remission of his sins, signified the death of an old life, the burying of the old man (the man of evil) and the resurrection of the new to walk in newness of life. (Mark 16:16; Romans 6:8; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12 )
Second, the New Testament church had no man made ~. discipline or -rule book. lta creed or statement of belief was the word of God. Paul in his last instructions to Timothy impressed upon him the all-sufficiency of the Word in this language, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:16-17) The things revealed in the Scriptures but testify to the Lord and give us the teachings needed to carry on His work. If I believe that Jesus is the Christ and place my life under His complete authority and will, whatever He commands me to do through the Word I shall do it, and thus it becomes the sufficient rule of faith and practice. What other creed do we need? What other rule book is necesaary if the man of God will be completely furnished unto all good works by following the Scriptures?
Third, no elaborate organization characterized ’the early church. In fact, Jesus expressly states that in His kingdom, men will not be lords as the Gentiles are, nor will there be high and low stations in the work of Christ, but the greatest shall be the best servant, the one who does the most for all. (Mark 10:42-43) The trouble today with us is that we will not accept the simple way of Christ, but instead we wish to substitute like King Saul of old . But "to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." Christ is the head of the church, and likewise its supreme ruler. His will is absolute , and no man or set of men had then, nor have they now, any right to change one iota of the laws of th e Lord. He made these for the kingdom of which He is ruler, and He alone can change them. He is the founder and the foundation of the church. (Ephesians 1:22-23 ; Colossians 1:18)
However, there is a simple organization of congregations in localities presented to us by the Scriptures. Each congregation of Christians had its plurality of elders, or bishops, these words used interchangeably. It was their specific duty to oversee the affairs of the church, to lead and guide in matters spiritual and to discipline those who were erring. (Acts 20:17; Acts 20:28) Certain qualifications are laid down by Paul and Peter regarding the elders.(1 Timothy 3:1-7; 1 Peter 5:1-4) However, at present these words are no longer used in their Scriptural meanings by many, nor do they signify the offices described in the Bible. The ecclesiasticism of men has changed the plan of God. Along with these elders or bishops, each congregation had its deacons, to care for the work of charity and matters financial. They we e to work under the direction of the elders, meeting qualifications also. (Acts 6:1-6 ; 1 Timothy 3:8-13) These elders and deacons formed the officials of the local congregation . The evangelists who preached the word had their special work to perform, but in the last analysis all were but brethren. No great distinction nor high and holy offices existed to separate the masses of the people from the "clergy" class. These classifications came into being much later.
Fourth, with regard to name, no distinguishing appellation was worn to separate one body of believers from another. The church was called also the "body of Christ" (Colossians 1:24), " the church of God," (1 Timothy 3:5’) "the church of the living God " (1 Timothy 3:15) , "the church of the Lord" (Acts 20:28), "my church" (Matthew 16:18) by Jesus, "churches of Christ " (Romans 16:16). The members were called "disciples" and "Christians"(Acts 11:26), "saints" (Romans 1:7), "brethren" (James 1:2). These are not all the names used but enough to give us an understanding of the fact that no distinctive names were applied to the churches to indicate different sects or parties, but rather descriptive terms were used to show the relationships . Isn’t it strange that there are so many different names worn by professed followers of Christ today, when these names in the Scriptures would be sufficient, and a basis of unity. The worship of the apostolic age was exceedingly simple in form, but marvelously spiritual. The ideal given in the New Testament is that of worship in spirit and in truth. Worship ·must arise from our heart unto God, and so personal is it that no one else can do it for us. It must not only be according to the truth of God, but also the spiritual aspect must be present. The items ,of worship given in the Scriptures are very definite. Christians were to praise the Lord and exhort one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in their hearts unto the Lord. (Ephesians 5:19 ; Colossians 3:16-17) Their singing was to worship God, not to display a beautiful voice, and fine technique. This constituted ’the music in New Testament times . They also read and studied the teachings of the apostles, thus receiving the proper instruction along lines spiritual. The worship was likewise characterized by prayer, for there is no subject more impressively taught in the Bible than prayer and our need of it.
Upon each first day of the week, the day of the week on which Christ arose from the dead, the day He first appeared unto His disciples as the Risen Lord, the day on which the church was established, the day on which the terms of the gospel were first announced to man, and the church received its first converts, the disciples also met to break bread, to partake of the Lord’s supper. (Acts 2:42; Acts 20:7 ; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 ) The communion of the bread and fruit of the vine was in remembrance of the sufferings and death of the Master. The Lord’s Supper both pointe back to the cross of Calvary, and forward to the coming of Jesus again, to receive His faithful, called and chosen. Thus the Lord’s Supper became the central spiritual feast of early worship and this remains today, keeping ever before the Christian the price of his salvation and pointing him with hope toward the glorious consummation of the church in eternal life. So many today have failed to appreciate the Lord’s Supper, and to remember Him at the beginning of each week. Therefore, there has come weakness spiritually and many sickly and ready to die. Upon the first day of the week at the time of worship, Christians were commanded to lay by in store of their means for the support of the church and the extending of charity to the needy.(1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:7) God’s plan was a plan of systematic, prayerful giving, without any coercion or assessing. We are to purpose in our hearts and so give.