T HE N EW T ESTAMENT C HURCH THE CALLED OUT BODY

Many descriptive phrases in the scriptures applied to the church in the NT. Meaning of the term “church”: – Derived from “ kuriakos ” meaning “of or belonging to the Lord.” – Greek word “ Ekklesia ” used by Jesus and the apostles. Means “to call out.” – NT term means “ a called out body of people.”

T HE C ALLED O UT B ODY The word “ church ” used in two senses in the New Testament: Universal sense – Referring to all those called out of the world into God’s service. Every individual. “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” {Matthew 16:18}

T HE C ALLED O UT B ODY The word “ church ” used in two senses in the New Testament: Local sense – Referring to all those called out of the world into God’s service in any definite locality. “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.” {1 Corinthians 1:2}

T HE N ATURE OF T HIS C ALLING Called of God—a divine calling. – “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” {1 Peter 5:10} – “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” {1 Timothy 1:8,9}

T HE N ATURE OF T HIS C ALLING Called into fellowship and peace of Christ—in ONE body. – “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” {1 Corinthians 1:9} – “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body ; and be thankful.” {Colossians 3:15}

T HE N ATURE OF T HIS C ALLING Called to be children of God. – “As He says also in Hosea: "I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved. And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,' There they shall be called sons of the living God.” {Romans 9:25,26} – “To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints : Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” {Romans 1:7}

T HE N ATURE OF T HIS C ALLING Called to a “ holy calling.” – “For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.” {1 Thessalonians 4:7} – “Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” {2 Timothy 1:9} – “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” {1 Peter 1:15}

T HE N ATURE OF T HIS C ALLING Also a “ heavenly calling.” – “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus.” {Hebrews 3:1}

H OW A RE W E C ALLED ? All made possible by the suffering of Christ. “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” {1 Peter 2:21}

H OW A RE W E C ALLED ? Out of the darkness of sin—into His marvelous light! “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” {1 Peter 2:9}

H OW A RE W E C ALLED ? By the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ ! “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” {2 Thessalonians 2:13,14}

T HE H OPE OF T HIS C ALLING That we may be worthy ! “Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” {2 Thessalonians 1:11,12}

T HE H OPE OF T HIS C ALLING That we may be worthy ! “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” {Ephesians 4:1-3}

T HE H OPE OF T HIS C ALLING To Inherit a blessing ! “Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.” {1 Peter 3:9}

T HE H OPE OF T HIS C ALLING Unto perfection. “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.” {Philippians 3:13-16}

T HE H OPE OF T HIS C ALLING Making our calling and election sure. “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.” {2 Peter 1:10}