1. Things Clearly Taught About the Church The church was something planned by God (Eph. 3:10-11). Here was something that God spent time thinking about and bringing to pass (Isa. 2:2-4). The church holds an important place in the mind of God.

2. The church was something through which the manifold wisdom of God was to be made known (Eph. 3:l0- 11). The church in its design reflects the wisdom of God. Unto God be the glory in the church, and in Christ Jesus (Eph. 3:21).

3. It is therefore complete and adequate, AS IT CAME FROM THE MIND OF GOD, to accomplish His will.

4. Building the church was one of the things Jesus came to do (Matt. 16:18). It hadn’t been done already or He would not have had to do it. He built His not somebody else’s. He built it then, not many centuries later, because we see the church early in the book of Acts (2:47; 5:11).

5. Christ loved the church very much (Eph. 5:25; Acts 20:28). Therefore the church is something of great value. We should love it and prize it as He did.

6. Christ equipped the church for the cultivation of Christians (Eph. 4:1-16). Therefore it is complete. It does not mean any patching or remodeling by men. Therefore it is essential to our being Christians and getting to heaven. The church is to be concerned with spiritual things. Christ did not die to equip the church to provide recreation and social functions.

7. We find the church limited in the activities it engaged in: Worship when it came together (Acts 2:42; 20:7). Preaching the word (2 Cor. 11:8; Phil. 4:15-16). Edification of the saints (Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 14:12, 19; Eph. 3:11-12). Relieving the needs of the saints (Acts 2, 4; 6:1-6; 11:27-30; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 8:4; 9:1).

8. The church has divinely appointed features that must not be changed, no matter how long time lasts. The Head is Christ (Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:18). Foundation is Christ (Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 3:11).

9. He is Savior of the body (Eph. 5:23). Organization (Eph. 4:11; Acts 14:23; 1 Tim. 3; Tit. 1). Purpose (Eph. 3:10-11; 2:19-22; 1 Tim. 3:14-15).

10. How may we keep the charge of the Lord with regard to the church? (Num. 9:23). “At the commandment of the Lord they encamped.” “At the commandment of the Lord they journeyed.”

11. “They kept the charge of the Lord at the commandment of the Lord by Moses.” Charge – What the Lord wanted them to do. Commandment – How the Lord expressed what He wanted them to do. By Moses – God’s spokesman.

12. This means that God can express His will in commandments. These commandments can be conveyed to human beings through another human being. Through the commandments of God through the apostles we can keep His charge regarding the church.