THE ONE BODY
(Eph. 4:4)
Intro:
There are so many things that we could say pertaining to the term one body, but time will not permit us to deal with it in its entirety so we will use a short form to make our point.
Dan. 2:44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
There were four kingdoms Babylonian, Med-Persion, Greacion, Roman it was in the days of the Roman kingdom that the Lord's church had its beginning.
Heb. 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
Isa. 28:16 Therefore thus says the Lord "Behold I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation. A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: Whoever believes will not act hastily.
Matt. 16:13-20 Jesus promised to build his kingdom.
ALL OF THIS WAS TO BEGIN in Jerusalem in Luke 24:46-49 we read were Jesus told the apostles to go to Jerusalem and wait there for the Spirit.
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1. What is the meaning of the word church?
Ekklesia Ek out, kalea to call or summon.
This word was not coined by Christ or the apostles but was in general use by the Greek speaking people during the time of Christ's earthly ministry.
The term never had any religious significance among the Greeks, it literally meant the called out ones or an assembly.
Why was the term church applied to God's people? It should be kept in mind that the word church is not the only term used to designate God's people.
They are also referred to as a kingdom, flock, house, temple, and body.
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2. Christ is head of his body (the church)
A. Col. 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
What is the body? It is the church according to this scriptures.
B. Eph. 1:22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
Eph. 1:23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
1 Cor. 12:20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.
Rom. 16:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.
Why was it called the church of Christ?
This a three step illustration.
1. The word church we have already looked at and know the meaning.
2. What does the word of mean? It means belong to.
3. So we have the called out people that belong to Christ.
Conclusion:
How can one become a called out one?
1. Hear. Rom. 10:17; Matt. 7:24-27.
2. Believe.
Heb. 11:6 Mk. 16:15,16; James 2:24, not faith only.
3. Repent:
Acts 2:38, 17:30, Lk. 13:3.
4. Confess:
Matt. 10:32-33, Acts 8:36-37.
5. Be baptized:
Acts 2:38, 22:16 1 Pet. 3:20-21, Acts 10:48 This is the way to become the called out one.
Rom. 6:3-5 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
Acts 8:36-38.
This is action.
Candidates:
Those taught---
Matt. 28:19` Believers--repent and so on.
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