A STUDY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

14 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. Acts 2:14 (NASB95)

THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH: The Significance of the Church of Christ THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH: The Significance of the Church of Christ

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: Ephesians 1:4,10 (KJV 1900) ✦ It was the work and will of God throughout eternity that salvation would be found in the Church THE ETERNALLY ELECT BODY

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Ephesians 1:3 (KJV 1900) ✦ The Church was the work and will of God throughout eternity that salvation would be found in the Church ✦ All spiritual blessings are found “in Christ” or in “his body” THE ETERNALLY ELECT BODY

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. John 15:4 (KJV 1900) ✦ The Church was the work and will of God throughout eternity that salvation would be found in the Church ✦ All spiritual blessings are found “in Christ” or in “his body” THE ETERNALLY ELECT BODY

15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Genesis 3:15 (KJV 1900) ✦ The Church was the work and will of God throughout eternity that salvation would be found in the Church ✦ All spiritual blessings are found “in Christ” or in “his body” ✦ This plan was the theme of the Prophets THE ETERNALLY ELECT BODY

13 Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; And he shall bear the glory, And shall sit and rule upon his throne; And he shall be a priest upon his throne: And the counsel of peace shall be between them both. Zechariah 6:13 (KJV 1900) ✦ The Church was the work and will of God throughout eternity that salvation would be found in the Church ✦ All spiritual blessings are found “in Christ” or in “his body” ✦ This plan was the theme of the Prophets

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; For he shall bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:11 (KJV 1900) ✦ The Church was the work and will of God throughout eternity that salvation would be found in the Church ✦ All spiritual blessings are found “in Christ” or in “his body” ✦ This plan was the theme of the Prophets THE ETERNALLY ELECT BODY

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; For he shall bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:11 (KJV 1900) In this we see that the role of Messiah could only be fulfilled with the establishment and perfection of the Church THE ETERNALLY ELECT BODY

PURCHASED BY BLOOD 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain... Acts 2:23 (KJV 1900) ✦ The humiliation of the Christ was a consistent theme of the prophets and the Gospel

PURCHASED BY BLOOD 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain... Acts 2:23 (KJV 1900) ✦ The humiliation of the Christ was a consistent theme of the prophets and the Gospel ✦ This same suffering was necessary for the formation of the Church

PURCHASED BY BLOOD 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: Ephesians 2:15–16 (KJV 1900) ✦ The humiliation of the Christ was a consistent theme of the prophets and the Gospel ✦ This same suffering was necessary for the formation of the Church ✦ Both our personal salvation and the creation of the Church were made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus

PURCHASED BY BLOOD 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Acts 2:34–36 (KJV 1900) ✦ The Church stands as an emblem of the victory won through the cross

PURCHASED BY BLOOD 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Acts 2:34–36 (KJV 1900) ✦ The Church stands as an emblem of the victory won through the cross ✦ It was this victory that was announced on Pentecost with the inauguration of the Church

PURCHASED BY BLOOD 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: Ephesians 1:19–21 (KJV 1900) ✦ The Church stands as an emblem of the victory won through the cross ✦ The Church shows the power of God in victory over Satan and Allies

PURCHASED BY BLOOD 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, Ephesians 3:9–10 (KJV 1900) ✦ The Church stands as an emblem of the victory won through the cross ✦ The Church shows the power of God in victory over Satan and Allies ✦ The Church shows the wisdom and completion of God’s eternal plan

PURCHASED BY BLOOD 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, Ephesians 3:9–10 (KJV 1900) To undervalue the Church is to undervalue the eternal plan of God, the personal sacrifice of Jesus and one’s own salvation

EMBODIMENT OF OUR HOPE 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Hebrews 6:19 (KJV 1900) 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (KJV 1900) ✦ We are kept by a hope grounded in faith!

EMBODIMENT OF OUR HOPE 26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Acts 2:26–28 (KJV 1900) ✦ We are kept by a hope grounded in faith! ✦ Christ went to the cross with this same hope

EMBODIMENT OF OUR HOPE 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: Ephesians 2:14–16 (KJV 1900) ✦ We are kept by a hope grounded in faith! ✦ Christ went to the cross with this same hope ✦ Any hope we have of salvation is found only in the Body of Christ, the Church of Christ