Condensed Theology

A Primer in Systematic Theology

Ecclesiology: The Doctrine of the Church

What does the Bible teach about the church?

Review
A Beginning Definition

Review: Defining the Church

The

church is the assembly of the true and living God gathered into one people by his work of redemption in Jesus Christ.

Review
The Attributes of the Church

Review: Attributes of the Church

1. 2. 3. 4.

One Holy Catholic Apostolic

Forms of the Church

Forms of the Church

1. 2.

Visible and invisible Local and universal

Forms of the Church

Visible and Invisible

The Visible and Invisible Church

The visible church is the church as we see itwe see people who profess the Christian faith and partake of the sacraments. The invisible church is the church as God sees it (Grudem 855)the Lord knows who are his (those who possess the faith and do not merely profess the faith).

The Visible and Invisible Church

You can be part of the visible church without being part of the invisible church But you cannot be part of the invisible church without being part of the visible church; that is, if you are a genuine Christian, you will not long persist to be so in secretyou will confess your faith before men.

The Visible and Invisible Church

John 19:38-40: After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Matt 10:32-33: Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

The Visible Church

The Visible Church

The visible church: those who profess the Christian faith and partake of the sacraments. The reason why more than profession is necessary to be considered part of the visible church is that baptism (initiation) and the Lords Supper (continuation) visibly identify Christians as belonging to the church.

The Visible Church

The visible church: those who profess the Christian faith and partake of the sacraments. In order for letters to be written to churches (e.g. 1 Cor 1:2; 1 Thess 1:1), the church must be visible.

The Visible Church

Because the visible church is made up of those who profess the faith and partake of the sacraments, The visible church contains a mixture of true and false believers.

1 Tim 1:19: keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme. 2 Tim 4:10: for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.

The Visible Church

Because the visible church is made up of those who profess the faith and partake of the sacraments, The visible church contains a mixture of true and false believers.

Acts 20:29-30: I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

The Invisible Church

The Invisible Church

The invisible church is the church as God sees itthe true assembly of God. This was a particularly important doctrine for the Reformers in that the Roman Catholic church declared that the church was only visibleonly the visible organization of the church of Rome in unbroken succession from the apostles.

The Invisible Church

The invisible church is the church as God sees itthe true assembly of God. 2 Tim 2:19: Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, The Lord knows those who are His. Heb 12:23: to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect.

The Invisible Church

The invisible church is the church as God sees itthe true assembly of God. Matt 7:21-23: Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS. John 10:27: My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

Forms of the Church

Local and Universal

The Local and Universal Church

The visible church has two expressions:

Universal Local

The Local and Universal Church

The term translated church (evkklhsi,a, ekklsa) is used both of local assemblies of professing Christians who partake of the sacraments and of That full number of professing Christians who partake of the sacraments throughout the whole world.

The Universal Church

The Universal Church

Eph 5:25: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her. 1 Cor 12:13: For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 1 Cor 12:28: And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.

The Universal Church

Eph 1:22: And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church. Col 2:19: and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.

The Local Church

The Local Church

Rom 16:5: also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia. 1 Cor 16:19: The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

The Local Church

1 Cor 1:2: To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. Acts 9:31: So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

The Local Church

Other local churches included the following: Jerusalem (Acts 8:1; 11:22; 15:4, 22) Antioch (Acts 11:26; 13:1; 14:21-23) Lystra (Acts 14:21-23) Iconium (Acts 14:21-23) Caesarea (Acts 18:22) Ephesus (Acts 20:17; Revelation 2:1) Rome (Romans 1:7; 16:5) Ancyra (Galatians 1:2) Pisidia (Galatians 1:2) Isauria (Galatians 1:2) Phrygia (Galatians 1:2) Lycaonia (Galatians 1:2) Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1) Smyrna (Revelation 2:8) Pergamum (Revelation 2:12) Thyatira (Revelation 2:18) Sardis (Revelation 3:1) Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7) Laodicea (Revelation 3:14) Macedonia (2 Corinthians 8:1)

Local and Visible

The Local and Visible Church

The local church and the universal church are subcategories of the visible church, which may be visualized the following way:

The Local and Visible Church

The local church and the universal church are subcategories of the visible church, which may be visualized the following way:
Visible Church: Professing Christians who partake of the sacraments.

The Local and Visible Church

The local church and the universal church are subcategories of the visible church, which may be visualized the following way:
Visible Church: Professing Christians who partake of the sacraments.

Local Church: Organized assemblies under the authority of church leadership.

The Local and Visible Church

The local church and the universal church are subcategories of the visible church, which may be visualized the following way:
Visible Church: Professing Christians who partake of the sacraments.

Local Church: Organized assemblies under the authority of church leadership.

Universal Church: The full number of members of local churches.

The Local and Visible Church

As a result of this scheme, it is not correct to say that you are part of the universal church without also being part of the local church; for The universal church is made up of local churches.

The Universal and Local Church

The Universal Church

The Universal and Local Church

The Universal Church

Local Church 1: Corinth

The Universal and Local Church

The Universal Church

Local Church 1: Corinth

Local Church 2: Rome

The Universal and Local Church

The Universal Church

Local Church 1: Corinth

Local Church 2: Rome

The Church in Chloes House

The Universal and Local Church

The Universal Church

Local Church 1: Corinth

Local Church 2: Rome

The Church in Chloes House

The Church in Prisca and Aquilas House

The Universal and Local Church

The Universal Church

Local Church 1: Corinth

Local Church 2: Rome

Local Church 3: The Twin Cities

The Church in Chloes House

The Church in Prisca and Aquilas House

The Universal and Local Church

The Universal Church

Local Church 1: Corinth

Local Church 2: Rome

Local Church 3: The Twin Cities

The Church in Chloes House

The Church in Prisca and Aquilas House

Redeemer Bible

The Universal and Local Church

The Universal Church

Local Church 1: Corinth

Local Church 2: Rome

Local Church 3: The Twin Cities

The Church in Chloes House

The Church in Prisca and Aquilas House

Redeemer Bible

Bethlehem Baptist

Objections to the Local Church

Objections to the Local Church

This also explains why the following statement is not biblical: Since I am a true and professing Christian (part of the invisible and the visible church), I do not need to be part of a local churchI can do it on my own.

Objections to the Local Church

But why does it have to be organized under leadership? In Matt 18:20 Jesus says, For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst. This is not the meaning of Matt 18:20. As always, the context is determinative

Objections to the Local Church

Matt 18:15-20: If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.

Objections to the Local Church

The work of establishing a church in a given locale was not considered complete until local leadership was established under which the Christians could function in body life. Titus 1:5: For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, Acts 14:23: When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. Acts 14:23 is particularly instructive in that the churches (assemblies of Christians) existed before elders were appointed, they were not established until they were appointed.

Objections to the Local Church

Other biblical problems with refusing to belong to a local church include:

We are commanded not to forsake our own assembling together. Heb 10:25: not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Objections to the Local Church

Other biblical problems with refusing to belong to a local church include:

We are commanded to imitate and to obey our church leaders. Heb 13:7: Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Heb 13:17: Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. This implies at least (1) that you have leaders and (2) that you know who they are (they are your leaders).

Objections to the Local Church

Other biblical problems with refusing to belong to a local church include:

The New Testament assumes participation in local churches, as its letters were written either to local churches or to leaders of local churches. See for example (1 Cor 1:2; 2 Cor 1:1; 1 Thess 1:1; 2 Thess 1:1; Phil 1:1).

Objections to the Local Church

Other biblical problems with refusing to belong to a local church include:

The Pastoral Epistles (1 & 2 Timothy and Titus) in particular are meaningless apart from the local church. 1 Tim 3:15: but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

Objections to the Local Church

Other biblical problems with refusing to belong to a local church include:

When believers relocated, letters of commendation (= reference letters) were sent to the new assembly with which they would be associating. Rom 16:1-2: I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well. 2 Cor 3:1: Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you?

Conclusion
Forms of the Church

Conclusion: Church Forms

Visible and invisible Universal and local