Does God Have a Particular Church in the World Today?

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Questions Youth are Asking today: Pt.1

Does God have a particular church in the world today?

ATTRACT ATTENTION

Mat 16:17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 16:18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

CREATE INTEREST

1. upon this rock .... upon this rock.... upon this rock I will build my church;

2. and the gates .....and the gates of hell.... shall not prevail against it.

ESTABLISH NEED

3. The birth of this sermon finds its cradle in questions our youth are asking. I take your questions seriously. What is important to you is important to me...and more so God.

4. Does God have a particular church in the world today?

5. Is it important to attend a particular church today?

6. What is all the fuss about one church in the midst of so many?

PROVIDE SOLUTION

7. Two things need to be kept in mind....

A. The enemy of Jesus claims this world and all that is in it.

B. Jesus has come and set up His kingdom in the midst of it.

8. Definition: Church. [Gr. ekklēsia, from ek, “out,” and kaleō, “to call.” In secular Greek the term signified a gathering of the people, such as a regularly summoned political body, or an assemblage generally. In the OT Heb. qahal (1 Ki 8:14, 22; 1 Chr 13:2; etc.), “gathering,” “congregation,” “assembly.” NT usage of the term seems to be based on the usage of the LXX.]

9. When used of the Christian church it has several shades of meaning: (1) a church meeting (1 Cor 11:18), (2) the total number of Christians living in one place (ch 4:17), (3) the church universal (Mt 16:18).

10. OT Church roots in Adam/Noah Gen 6/ Abraham Gen. 12:1-3; 26: 4-5, / Jacob and his12 sons Gen. 35:22-26; / Joseph in Egypt and Moses/ N. & S. Kingdoms; Acts 7:37-38,39

11. NT Church... Israel and the Christian Believers. In NT times this term is most frequently applied to a body of people who believe in Jesus as the Messiah and who accept Him and His teachings, and who are joined to the organization originated by Him (see Mt 16:18; cf. 1 Cor 3:11; Mt 28:19, 20; Mk 16:15, 16; Acts 2:38, 41, 47; 16:31; Rom 12:4, 5; 1 Cor 12:12).

12. Should I anticipate the church to be an organized body and do I need to be a part of it?

Matt. 16:18. Build my church.

Eph. 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

1 Cor. 12:28. 1 Tim. 3:1-13. God placed Officers/ bishop/deacons

Acts 14:22-23 Ordained Elders

13. Does God want us to be a part of an organized body?

è Acts 2:47. Lord added to the church. 1 Cor. 12:18.

è Acts. 2:41-42 Mutual fellowship.

è Matt. 18:17; Acts ch 15:2, 6. Settling disputes...

è Matt. 28:19-20. The church was intended to take up, and fulfill, the work that Israel failed to do—that of representing God’s character to the world (see Rom 2:28, 29; Gal 3:28, 29; Eph 2:8–22; 1 Pe 2:5–10),

14. The Universal church is the collective group of called out ones who have been added to the body of Christ most often via baptism

15. Should I remain a part of a church that is messed up?

è Acts 4:10-12. 5:30,31. The cardinal requirement for entrance into the Christian church was the acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah (Acts 2:38). NOT THE ATTAINMENT OF PERFECTION.

è Rev. 2-3. God’s church has always had good and bad things about them.....

Ephesus: relatively pure/

Smyrna: associated with blaspheming/

Pergamos: doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans/ Thyatira: and seduction of Jezebel/

Sardis: stop protesting and reforming/

Philadelphia: had little strength.

è Acts 5:1-11. Ananias and Sapphira

è Matt, 25: 33; Matt. 13: 30 Sheep and goats, wheat and tears grow together.

è 2 Tim. 3:1FF Form of Godliness

è 1 Tim. 3:15 Had need to council about behavior in house of God

OUR RESPONSIBILITY: Address issues. Matt. 5:16 LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE. Build up THE CHURCH. Trust God to govern His church.

16. What would I gain by coming to church? WRONG QUESTION: Would Jesus be pleased with me if I do not attend? Heb. 10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

17. How can I identify God’s church? How can I tell who is a part of God’s family? By thy fruits... Matt. 7:16, 20

Trace it from Adam/Eve to Abraham/Israel/

NT Church/Last-day Remnant

Jn 10: 16, 27; Rev. 18:4 Responded to call of Jesus to come out

Rev. 14:7 Preach: Fear God/give glory to Him/worship Him

Rom 8:14 Led by the Spirit

Jn. 13:35 Love one another

Eph 5:8; 1 Jn. 1:7. Walks in the light of the word

Rev. 12: 17; 14:6-12. Jn. 14:15. Keep the commandments of God and have the Testimony of Jesus.

18. Does it mean that people in others denominations are not children of God?

John 10:16 Other sheep.

19. What is Future of the Church?

Rev. 3:13-21 From Laodecia

Eph. 5:27; to pure church (without spot or wrinkle)

Rev. 19:7 Made herself ready

Rev. 7 ; 12: 22 Sifting/ sealing

Rev. 12:11 Overcomers

We should remember that the church, enfeebled and defective though it be, is the only object on earth on which Christ bestows His supreme regard. He is constantly watching it with solicitude, and is strengthening it by His Holy Spirit.—Selected Messages 2:396 (1902). LDE 58

Oh....I’m not going anywhere..... I’m gonna stay.... I’m gonna work..... I’m going to build up His kingdom.

God’s Purpose for His Church

The church is God’s appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the beginning it has been God’s plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory. The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to “the principalities and powers in heavenly places,” the final and full display of the love of God. Ephesians 3:10. { AA 9.1}

The Adventist church that you see today will not be the Adventist church that is ready for Jesus to come.

Some things about to change. We are going to have to make some drastic changes in the church.

Some things about to change.

Isa 26:2Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.

Oh....I’m not going anywhere..... I’m gonna stay.... I’m gonna work..... I’m going to build up His kingdom. I’m going to let the Holy Spirit make me into what God wants me to be.... I’m going praise Him in the church.... I’m going be a part of His body....I’m going to join the the redeemed of all ages... saying Holy Holy Holy.

20. What is most important? The Church’s preparing itself for the return of its Lord (1 Cor 1:7, 8; 2 Pe 3:14; Rev 14:5; etc.).[1]

21. How can I become a member of His church or be among the redeemed?

Answer His call.....

Rev 3:20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Rev 3:21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Come, Confess, Receive His pardon, Feed on his word, Baptized by His spirit. Minister on His behalf.

[1] Horn, S. H. (1979). In The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary (p. 224). Review and Herald Publishing Association.