THE LORD ORGANIZED HIS CHURCH

By Gary McDade

Looking at four vital aspects of the church of the Bible will show that “the Lord organized His church.” First, her terms of membership. 1) Hear the gospel (Romans 10:14-17), 2) Believe the gospel (John 8:24), 3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:3, 5), 4) Confess Christ (Matthew 16:16; Acts 8:37), and 5) Be baptized into Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins (Acts 2:38). Be then added—not join--by the Lord to His church (Acts 2:47).

Second, her avenues of worship unto God. 1) The preaching/teaching of the gospel of Christ (2 Timothy 1:11; 4:2), 2) Congregational singing (Hebrews 2:12), 3) Prayers (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Acts 2:42), 4) Observing the Lord’s supper (Mark 14:25; Acts 20:7), and 5) Taking up the collection (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).

Third, her divinely given mission in the world. As simple as one word, “Go” and as extensive as “into all the world” (Mark 16:15). That journey consists of preaching the gospel to a lost and dying world. Proclaiming the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Earnestly “warning everyone night and day” against the possibility of apostasy (Acts 20:28) and building up the saved by teaching the church the Word of God (Ephesians 4:15-16). Urging “the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect [full grown, ASV] man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).

Fourth, her organization as the body of Christ with Christ as her head (Ephesians 1:22-23). Jesus Christ is the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4) and those qualified as elders lead the congregation under Him (1 Peter 5:1-4). Their qualifications appear in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-14. Deacons serve under the oversight of the elders (1 Timothy 3:8-13). Preachers and teachers and all the members serve under Christ with the help and guidance of the eldership (Ephesians 4:11-16).

These vital aspects of the church determine her identity before God. If a church does not have these vital aspects in place and demonstratable by its practice then it is not the church of Christ. (Note: should it be the case that a congregation does not have men qualified as elders and deacons, as is sometimes the case, then it must be Scripturally unorganized until such qualified men emerge from the congregation). “The Lord organized His church” and those belonging to groups that do not recognize His organization beyond dispute simply are not His people.