Do you “go to church”? Do you have a “church home”? Do you have a church that you would call “my church”? If you do, there are some vital matters that every “church goer” needs to consider.
When one picks up the Bible and reads through the New Testament, a careful Bible student will find a very precise plan and pattern for something the Bible describes as “the church.” It is readily apparent to Bible readers that the church was purposed (Eph. 3:10-11), prophesied (Isa. 2:2-4; Dan. 2:44), promised (Matt. 16:18), purchased (Acts 20:28), established (Acts 2:1-47; Col. 1:13) and directed (1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Cor. 14:37) by the God of heaven! Therefore, to whom should we turn to know all that we need to know about this “church” but to God Himself? And, where else would we go than to the Bible—God’s inspired Word, revealing to us the full will of God in all matters, including the church (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 1 Cor. 2:10-14)?
The design of this series of articles is for each of us to examine “our church.” Jesus established His church in the New Testament. It was the only church in existence on the day of its establishment in Acts 2, and it was the only church known, addressed and approved in the pages of the New Testament. Truly, “there is one body” (church) (Eph. 4:4; 1:22-23). Therefore, it is of eternal importance that each “church goer” honestly examine “his church” and be absolutely certain that it is the church of the Bible—the only one that belongs to Jesus.
Here’s the first examination. The church of the New Testament had instilled within them a deep respect for the authority of God’s Word. The teaching of the apostles and God’s inspired men was not viewed as something “cute” or “fascinating” or “a good approach.” The doctrine of Christ was absolutely essential (2 John 9-11). The church was taught not to “add to” or “take from” God’s inspired word (Rev. 22:18-19). The first-century church was warned to not tolerate anyone who would preach “any other gospel” than what had been preached by inspired men (Gal. 1:8-9). The early church could not think beyond (1 Cor. 4:6), speak beyond (1 Pet. 4:11) or act beyond (1 Cor. 1:10) that which was written. New Testament Christians understood that each person would stand before Christ on the day of judgment (2 Cor. 5:10), and it would be His Word that would be the standard of judgment on that day (John 12:48). The church was plainly instructed that their very entrance into heaven was dependent upon their obedience to the will of God in His Word (Matt. 7:21-23).
The New Testament church respected the authority of the Bible and would not dare teach any other doctrine than what the Bible teaches (1 Tim. 1:3). Does your church?