In order for a church today to be 'the church we read about in the New Testament', what would have to be true about:
a. its date of establishment
b. its form of worship
c. its manner of organization
d. its name
e. what it teaches concerning salvation / its terms of entrance
f. its singularity or 'number'
g. its non-denomination character
h. its program of work
i. its role is a person's salvation
Rather than hit each point I think, also as this will be a interview, I will collate my answers as a general description of what can be considered a 'New Testament' church, and then if required go back to any specific points I may have missed.
This church will accept the inspiration of all scripture, (2 Tim 3:16-17). That all that God has revealed there is of the Holy Spirit, (1 Cor 2:10) and is inspired in word and thought. (1 Cor 2:13) It has also been given by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Gal 1:11-12) Therefore when the Church is speaking forth scripturally it is speaking the thoughts of God. (1 Pet 4:11)
It also knows that as in 2 Jn 9
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
The church appeals to the scriptures for its authoritisation for its practices. It affirms that the New Testament constitutes a complete system, for all ages and circumstances.
Jesus promised to build His church. (Matt 16:18) If you liken it to a building, Jesus is the architect, He has the blueprints. The church is to be structured or built according to His divine pattern. (Heb 8:1-5)
This divine pattern is for example laid out in Phil 1.1,
Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
With the bishops and deacons qualifications laid out in Titus 1:5-9 & 1 Tim 3:1-13. So the church is made up of the saints with its bishops(elders if you will) and deacons. This is the only organisation known to the church, none larger or smaller. With its collective in any location the only one unit of function. It is not a social group nor any charitable institution, though can be both outgoing and loving, it is a church above all else. Also, as such an entity is independent and autonomous. Such things as conferences or synods are unscriptural in nature. Each local collective is to be independent and self governing.
It is to worship in Spirit and in truth. (John 4:24) Spirit in its manner, truth in its application. In scripture we see five acts, the Lord's Supper, fellowship, preaching, prayer and singing. (Acts 2:42, Col 3:16, Eph 5:19) (as a side point notice singing, not playing) Done on the Lord's day when the church was to assemble, and done on each Lord's day with no excuses.
It's function is to do the work of the church. First and foremost it is to preach and teach the gospel, at home and where it can abroad. (Phil 1:3-5, 4:15-18) Second it is to edify the saints in its assembly. (Acts 13:1, Eph 4:11-16, Rom 1:8-17) Thirdly, it is relieve the needs of its own needy members. (Acts 6:1-6, 1 Tim 5:9-10,16)
As far as to a) the date of its establishment, that is not relevant as God has no grandchildren, each members faith is their own, and we are not to occupy ourselves with genealogies. (1 Tim 1:4)
D) it should not glorify man, so not named after its pastor, or a saint, but if it relates to what it does, say x town gospel hall, is fine for example. By the way slapping 'Christ' on it doesn't make it anything more or less than it is, remember the Mormons put Jesus Christ in big print in their title and you can't tell me they follow Him.
I) It is Christ who saves not the organisation. But to the Mormons for this, you are not only saved if you are saved by them in their church, no we have as in Ephesians 4:5
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
That is how we get saved, not by the institution who performed it.
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