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Distinctive Matks

Mark Dunagan
07/02/17 - Sunday Morning

 Distinctive Marks of the Church Jesus Established

 

Just recently someone asked me if I would give them a list of identifying characteristics of the church that one can read about in the Bible. Looking for the true church is not a fruitless use of one's time, because it does exist. The same verse that speaks of Jesus establishing His church also reveals that this relationship will always exist (Matthew 16:18 “the gates of Hades will not overpower it”). The ongoing existence of the church is equally seen in such passages as Ephesians 3:21 “to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations” and Hebrews 12:28. On the surface it might seem like finding the true church would be almost an impossibility seeing that some 45,000 denominations are currently in existence, and simply searching through all of these would exhaust one’s lifetime. Yet, there is an easier way of finding this ancient body of believers other than dropping in on each denomination that exists on the planet.

 

The Pattern

 

The church is also called the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:23) and the temple or household of God (Ephesians 2:19-21; 1 Timothy 3:15). In the Old Testament the Temple that Solomon constructed was built according to a Divine pattern (1 Chronicles 28:19). The same is true for the tabernacle that preceded the Temple (Exodus 25:9 “According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall make it”). Therefore, the church, which is part of God’s eternal purpose (Ephesians 3:10-11) and was the reality foreshadowed by the tabernacle and the temple, must be constructed according to a Divine pattern as well.    

 

What God Knew

 

Some people are discouraged and shocked by all the confusion and division that exists in the religious world, and especially among the religious bodies that claim to be “Christian”. God is very aware of such chaos and even predicted it’s sad arrival (1 Timothy 4:1-3; Acts 20:28ff). In light of that, it is also clear that when God designed the church, He gave it very distinctive marks, so that it would be easy to find in any generation. He also designed the church, as He designs everything, in a way that man would not design it (1 Corinthians 1:27; Matthew 20:26-28). 

 

The Name

 

God choose a couple of names that were neither complicated, philosophical, nor put all the emphasis on poetic license, rather He choose very simple, yet accurate designations.

• “The church of God” (1 Corinthians 1:2).
• “The churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16)
• “The church of the Lord” (Acts 20:28)

The Name of the Members

 

Completely absent from the New Testament are all the man-made and sometime man-glorifying names that people in the denominations sometimes call themselves, rather God’s people are simply called:

• “Christians” (Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16)
• “Brethren” (Philippians 1:14)
• “Disciples” (Acts 11:26)
• “Saints” (1 Corinthians 1:2)

Date of Origin

 

The church you can read about in the Bible is first spoken of as being in existence on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, 33 A.D. (Acts 2:47) (KJV).  

 

The Plan of Salvation

 

The church that Jesus established taught the following steps to become a Christian or to be saved:

• Hearing the Gospel (Romans 10:17)
• Faith in Christ as the Son of God (John 8:24)
• Repentance (Acts 2:38)
• Confession of faith in Christ (Acts 8:37)
• Baptism for the Remission of Sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16)

Organizational Structure

 

Here is the following organizational structure that we find for the church revealed in the Bible:

• Jesus is the sole head (Ephesians 1:22-23). Thus making a human head or headquarters superfluous and unauthorized.
• Each congregation was to be shepherded by its own elders (1 Peter 5:1-2; Acts 14:23; Acts 20:28; Philippians 1:1). No man was given authority beyond this small sphere.
• Elders were also called bishops, overseers or pastors (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-3). These bishops had to be married men with children and possess very specific qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-4).

Expectations of the Members

• Members were expected to abstain from immorality, “Do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints” (Ephesians 5:3).
• A very definite moral code was taught in the true church and it was clear that the following acts (as well as others) were immoral and if not forsaken would exclude one from eternal life: See Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
• Members were expected to be involved in the work of the local congregation, “from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part” (Ephesians 4:16); “Ready for every good deed” (Titus 3:1); “Let our people also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, that they may not be unfruitful” (Titus 3:14).
• Members who departed from the teaching of the apostles and refused to repent were no longer accounted as members (Matthew 18:15-17; 2 Thessalonians 3:14).
• There were no creed books or statements of faith. What was followed is what Jesus revealed through the apostles. This was the final authority that settled all matters (Jude 3; 2 John 9; 2 Thessalonians 2:15). As deviation from this standard was considered false doctrine (2 Timothy 4:2-4; 1:13; 1 Timothy 6:20-21; 6:3; 4:6-7; 2 Thess. 3:14).

Sin

 

Besides teaching what specific attitudes and acts were sinful, the true church also emphasized the following concerning sin:

• Sin is not inherited (1 Corinthians 14:20), one is not born depraved or born lost.
• Sin can be forsaken (Revelation 2:20)
• Sin is a choice, it is not genetic, one is no one born a homosexual than a thief, liar, fornicator, or adulterer (1 Timothy 1:9-10).

Worship

 

When the church Jesus founded met together, they did the following:

• Sang hymns from their hearts (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16)
• Gave generously as they had been prospered (1 Corinthians 16:1)
• Prayed openly and earnestly (Acts 2:42)
• Listened with vigilance to God-given eternal truths (Acts 2:42)
• Partook with gratitude of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7)

Love: John 13:34-35

 

The early Christians loved the Lord more than anything else, loved each other, and loved the lost, thus proving themselves followers of Christ. When you've found the church you read about in the New Testament, we have found people who not only love and revere God and His word in all matters, you have also found a priceless spiritual family with whom to share the joys and sorrows of this life.

Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.net
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net