KNOWING THE LORD AND HIS WILL

Bible Course

Lesson 5

By Paul O. Nichols

The Church In Promise

Jesus said, Upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it   (Matthew 16:18).

Began In Jerusalem

...Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem   (Luke 24:46-47). ...For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem   (Isaiah 2:3). [ And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me  Then Jesus said to the apostles, ...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   (Acts 1:4, 8).]

Began On The Day of Pentecost

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.    And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance    And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven...and they were all amazed and marvelled, saying...how hear we every man in our own language, wherein we were born   (Acts 2:1, 4, 5, 7-8). But Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and harken to my words...This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are His witnesses...Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost...Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls...And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved   (Acts 2:14, 32, 38, 41, 47).

Purchase Price Of The Church

The apostle Paul said, Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood   (Acts 20:28). ...Christ... loved the church, and gave Himself for it   (Ephesians 5:25).

The Church Belongs To Christ And Wears His Name

Jesus declared, ...I will build My church   (Matthew 16:18). Paul said, referring to several congregations of the church, The churches of Christ salute you   (Romans 16:16).

The Head Of The Church is Christ

...Christ is the head of the church, and He is the savior of the body   (Ephesians 5:23).  God hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church   (Ephesians 1:22).

The Church Is The Spiritual Body Of Christ

...He is the head of the body, the church...that in all things He might have the preeminence   (Colossians 1:18). God gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body...   (Ephesians 1:22-23). For as the body is one and hath many members...so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles...   (I Corinthians 12:12, 13). There is one body...one faith...   (See Ephesians 4:4-5).

God Glorified In The Church

Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen   (Ephesians 3:21). That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ   (Romans 15:6)

A Glorious Church

Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish   (Ephesians 5:25-27).

Summary

Jesus Christ promised to build His church. It was begun on the first Pentecost after His death, burial, and resurrection. The Lord adds the saved to the church when they obey the gospel, and they become a part of the spiritual body of Christ. In the church those who are Christians can glorify God in unity, by walking in newness of life. Finally the glorious church will be received by Jesus. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And IF THE RIGHTEOUS SCARCELY BE SAVED, WHERE SHALL THE UNGODLY AND THE SINNER APPEAR?   (I Peter 4:17-18).

FILL IN THE BLANK SPACES

1. Christ promised to build His __________________.

2. The church of Christ began in the city of ________________________.

3. The birthday of the church was the day of _________________________.

4. On the day of Pentecost about ____________________________ were baptized.

5. The Lord added to the church daily such as should be __________________.

6. The purchase price of the church was the _______________ of Christ.

7. Christ is the ________________ of the church.

8. The church is the spiritual _______________ of Christ.

9. God must be glorified in the ____________________.

10. Christ is the Savior of the _______________.

QUESTIONS

1. Did Christ promise to build more than one church? Yes ____ No ____.

2. Did the church of Christ begin in Rome? Yes ____ No ____.

3. Does the Bible teach that one  joins the church   ? Yes ____ No ____

4. Does the Bible teach that one must be baptized to be in the church? Yes ____ No ____.

5. Do Jews and Gentiles become members of the church in the same way? Yes ____ No ____.

6. Does the church belong to Christ? Yes ____ No ____.

7. Is the church the spiritual body of Christ? Yes ____ No ____.

8. Can one glorify God outside of the church? Yes ____ No ____.

9. Are we to glorify God with one mind and one mouth? Yes ____ No ____.

10. Is Jesus going to save the church? Yes ____ No ____.