Topical Sermon: Descriptions of the Church

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:7-10

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE CHURCH

Intro.

1. Common statements: “One church is as good as another…Join the church of your choice…The church you’re a member of isn’t important…can be saved without being in the church…The church is full of hypocrites, anyway.”

2. These deny the importance/place of the church in plan of God, Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28; Eph. 3:10-11; 5:25; 1 Tim. 3:15.

3. What is the church? What kind of people make up the church? How & when does one enter it?

I. WHAT IS THE CHURCH? (Not the building!)

A. Definition: Ekklesia: “to call out of.”

1. The called out ones – cf. Acts 19:32, 39, 41; 7:38 (riot, gov’t body, Israel).

2. The redeemed (kingdom), Matt. 16:18-19.

3. “Church of Christ” – Designates possession (statement of relationship) -- ownership.

4. “Called out” of sin & into salvation; Head & body, Eph. 1:22-23.

B. People who are “Called Out” by God (Acts 2:39):

1. Out of darkness (1 Pet. 2:9); into kingdom (1 Ths. 2:12); into fellowship with Christ (1 Cor. 1:9).

2. Called by the gospel, 2 Ths. 2:13-14.

3. The church (“called out”) identifies relation of the saved to God & to the world.

II. DESCRIPTIONS OF THE CHURCH (People who belong to Christ).

-What kind of people? (Acquired, redeemed)

A. A Purchased People, Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 1:18-19 (Rev. 1:5-6).

B. A Saved People, Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23 (Acts 2:47).

1. Cannot be saved & not be member of Christ’s body, the church!

2. Church does not save – The church is the saved! (Acts 2:47)

C. A Possessed People, Matt. 16:18. (Belong to Christ; Xian, “of X”)

1. Founder & Builder (“I will build”); “My” / Purchased w/ His blood.

2. His own possession; purified, 1 Pet. 2:9-10; Tit. 2:14.

D. A Separated People, Col. 1:13; 1 Pet. 2:9.

1. From sin & darkness into the light of the kingdom; Distinctive.

2. Not of this world, 2 Cor. 6:16-18.

3. Saints, 1 Cor. 1:2.

E. A Submissive People, Eph. 5:24; 1:22-23.

1. Body subject to its head, Col. 3:17.

2. Kingdom subject to its king, Matt. 28:18.

III. ENTRANCE INTO CHRIST’S CHURCH (How? When?), Acts 2:47.

A. Baptism & Entrance into the Church of Christ.

1. Purchased: By blood of Christ, Rom. 6:3 (Acts 20:28).

a. Blessings of His blood reached through baptism!

b. Without baptism, purchasing blood is not applied to sinner’s life! Cannot be added to the church without it!

c. Not purchased, then baptized!

2. Saved, 1 Pet. 3:21. -- Eph. 5:23

a. Saved = church. Baptism is necessary. (Acts 2:47)

b. Not saved, then baptized.

3. Possessed, 1 Cor. 12:13.

a. Baptized into one body (Christ’s).

b. Baptized into the possession of Christ! -- Matt. 16:18 (28:19) (Gal. 3:27)

4. Separated, Acts 22:16.

a. Baptism separates one from his sin (remission, Acts 2:38).

b. After baptism one is in the church (separated people). -- 1 Pet. 2:9

5. Submissive, Mk. 16:16.

a. Commanded to be saved; His church obeys Him (Heb. 5:9).

b. Not in Christ’s church if you resist His command to be saved through belief & baptism! -- Eph. 5:24

Conclusion

1. Acts 2:37-47: When God’s will is fully obeyed, the Lord adds that person to His church: 2:37 (believe); 2:38 (repent, be baptized); 2:41 (added together); 2:47 (Saved added to church).

2. The church belongs to Christ (Eph. 1:23). Do you?

· The churches of men are not the church of Christ!

· Obey the call of the gospel & be saved tonight!