“IT DOES REALLY MATTER WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT THE
“CONTEMPORARY” CHURCH”

2 Timothy 2:1,2 - 1. Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

INTRO: In looking for some information I read something on-line recently on what people believe about the church. Something about it made me wonder what we and those who observe us believe. Do we as 21st century Christians understand that the church of the New Testament must not be just a historical institution ... but that it must be today’s church? This church of which we read in the New Testament, must be today’s church, too. Today I’d like to look at some specific things relative to that critical, urgent necessity. It does, you see, really matter what you believe about the “contemporary” church ... today’s church. There is no doubting that there is confusion about today’s church.

I. IT MUST NOT BE A DENOMINATION – It really does matter that you and I believe that the church today must not be a denomination.
A. The religious world is steeped in denominational thought
i. There is no denying that among denominations there is great diversity of belief and practice.
ii. Even with that diversity I strongly suspect that religious groups all believe that they are in some way a part of the New Testament church.
iii. Out of this confusion grows the idea, the mentality, that “any church will do”.
B. It is even possible that that mentality has become our mentality as we think of the church.
i. Expressions such as “my church”, “our church”, “our traditions”. “our brotherhood” signal confusion in understanding the nature of the church.
ii. Or expressions like “I am church of Christ” can be expressions warning us that there is ambiguity of understanding about the church.
iii. We are surrounded by denominational thinking. We hear it constantly, and it may be really difficult for us to remain free from that mentality. We must remain free from this.
C. The church of which you read in the New Testament must be the church of the 21st century and of every century.
i. In the New Testament there were no denominations ... just the church.
ii. It is true there were congregations of the Lord’s body spread through the world. And it is true the worldly conditions faced by these congregations varied.
iii. Yet as you read the New Testament you can not help but come to the conclusion that they were unified in belief and practice based on revealed truth. And any departure, any deviation from that truth was soundly condemned by apostolic writers. I want to share with you just one illustration of this. Open your bibles to: 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 - 10. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13. Is Christ divided?... It is true that there were some divisions among the Christians in the church in Corinth. It is also true that the very seeds of a denominational idea may well have existed in their thinking. In addressing those seeds of thought the apostle Paul, in language that is unmistakable, tells them this has no place in the thinking of members of the Lord’s body. The Lord is not divided, His body is not divided, and we can not divide it! was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

II. IT MUST, THEN, BE UNIQUE AMONG RELIGIOUS GROUPS – Therefore, the church of which you read in the New Testament and the church today is unique among religious bodies. This matters folks.
A. It is unique in its foundations
i. There can be no birthday or birthplace of the Lord’s church other than the day of Pentecost following the resurrection of Jesus Christ and Jerusalem. We read in Acts the second chapter that specific day and that specific place of the birth of the Lord’s church on this earth.
ii. There can be no founder other than Jesus Christ in any sense of the word.
iii. There can be no creed but the revealed scriptures - specifically, the New Testament as it relates to and reveals the terms of the new covenant.
B. The church must be unique in its holding fast to the pattern of scripture.
i. Turn to 2 Timothy 1:13 - This is a passage you have heard many times but it needs to be heard again for it is basic to the maintaining of the church. 13. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. Hold fast the pattern ... yes there is a pattern. Then at chapter 2 of 2 Timothy verse 2 - The same writer continues with this idea. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, May I stop and just suggest that he is referring to the pattern!? The things you have heard, the pattern you have heard the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. We must, if we are to be the church of the first century in the 21st century, we must hold to the pattern of revealed in the scriptures!
ii. Over in first Corinthians again: 1 Corinthians 4:17 – The apostle Paul wrote this: For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, Now this is one of those faithful men who the apostle Paul referred to in what we just read. He is a faithful man who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. All of the congregations were taught the same thing. The Lord expected them to believe and practice the same thing. When they did they were the same church!
iii. When a person or a group of persons or a congregation deviates from the pattern of revealed scripture, they become something other than the church of Christ, the Lord’s church, the church of the New Testament and they are no longer part of the New Covenant. Why? Because the pattern is not being observed.
iv. The Lord’s church is constituted according to a certain pattern. You leave the pattern folks and you can no longer be the church. You may be A church, you may be a religious group, but not the church of which you read in the New Testament.
C. We must believe, and it really does matter that we do, that the church be unique in how one enters it.
i. Turn with me to: 1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body,... Now look with me at: Colossians 1:18 - And he (Jesus) is the head of the body, the church:... The body and church are one and the same thing. The church to which reference is being made in Colossians 1:18 must be the church today. How people entered the church according to 1 Corinthians 12:13 was through New Testament baptism.
ii. I’d like us also to look at a couple more things the first being at: Mark 16:16 – It is our Lord who speaks here to say: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. With that in mind look at: Acts 2:38 - This is the birthday of the church, this is the day on which people began entering the body of Christ. How are they going to enter it? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. – If I put those two text together I begin to realize that both belief and repentance must precede baptism - When a believing, penitent person is baptized, he becomes a part of the body of Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:13, For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body,... When a believing, penitent person is baptized, into Christ, he becomes a part, “a member” of the Lord’s church because the body and the church are one and the same.
iii. Is this pattern followed in denominations today? The answer is no. It should be because it is right from the New Testament. It is right from the pattern. But the real truth is that it is not observed in the denominational world.
D. The church must be unique in its worship. There are a few passages to which I would like to refer you for a moment.
i. The first of these is in: Acts 20:7 – Here it describes a practice of the first century church. And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. There are two things I want you to observe here. First of all there was a particular day mentioned that was used for this observance – it was the first day of the week. Not the seventh, not the sabbath. I have heard reference to the Christian Sabbath and I submit that is a contradiction in terms. The sabbath is the seventh day, the Lord’s day is the first day. The Lord’s day was the day disciples came together for a very specific observance, the observance to commemorate the Lord’s death in the eating of the Lord’s supper. That must be part of our worship, each first day of the week.
ii. In 1 Corinthians 16:1,2 - Here the apostle Paul describes something else that was to be part of the pattern. 1. Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2. Upon the first day of the week That is familiar language isn’t it? This is to be part of the observance on the first day of the week. let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. – The giving of ones material means, the worship of our giving, is done on the first day of the week. Let me say it one more time, the worship... of our giving. It is not merely something that is set aside, it belongs to the Lord’s day and it belongs to the worship of the Lord’s church, that giving of our means.
iii. In Ephesians 5:19 – As the apostle describes the gatherings of the church, the assemblies, and contrasts them to the assemblies of people who worship idols he says this: Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Then in Colosians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. – Yes folks, according to the pattern when the church assembles on the Lord’s day it includes the singing our praises to God. That singing is to be singing. It is not to be diluted by anything else. It is accompanied only by the heart. It is called a cappella singing, without instrument.
iv. And further in 1 Corinthians 14:19 – the apostle Paul wrote: Yet in the church still describing here the assembly of the church. He starts out describing their abuse of the Lord’s supper and how they need to correct that. Here then is something else: I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. Then look with me at 1 Timothy 2:8 – Here Paul as he writes to Timothy. He again writes of the assembly: I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. – Two more things we have discovered about the assembly of the Lord’s church. There is to be the teaching of the word of God and that there is to be prayer.
v. If the church is to be the church of New Testament in the 21st century is must follow this pattern of worship on the Lord’s day.
E. The church must be unique in its organization
i. If you will turn to the book of Acts 14:23 – Here we see that soon after Christianity began to spread a need arose for the scriptural organizing or churches. Here the historian notes: And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. Elders in every church. Then in Philippians 1:1 – In his address to the church the apostle writes this: Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: - each church organized has elders (or bishops) and deacons. Certainly today there are denominational groups with people they denote as elders or deacons. Often though as you examine what they have you discover it is that in name only.
ii. Look with me in 1 Timothy 3:1-13 - 1. Here is where inspiration records the qualifications of the men who may hold these offices. In the denominational world there are men or women who are called elders or deacons. There are single men or women who are called elders or deacons. As you read these qualifications you will probably start scratching your head a little bit because you realize that what is in denominations does not conform to the pattern. This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3. Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4. One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5. (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6. Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 8. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9. Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. – These qualifications are critical and absolutely necessary to the scriptural organization of the Lord’s church, if it is indeed the church of the Lord.
iii. Look now at: Colossians 1:18 – Here the writer simply recognizes that Christ is the head of the body of the church. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. - Christ is the head of the church... And one thing is noticeably absent as you read the New Testament is that there is no hierarchal organization between local congregations and Christ... What you discover is each congregation of the church autonomous, self governing, under Christ. Between the congregations and Christ there is no “superstructure”.
iv. Is this the pattern found in denominational settings? No. What you find are all kinds of deviations, and alterations to the pattern that has been revealed in the word of God. When we deviate from the pattern or alter the pattern we can no longer legitimately claim to be the church of the New Testament. (variations are rule)
F. Unique in its purpose
i. Let’s talk a moment then about the purpose of the Lord’s church. Look with me at Mathew 28:19,20 - 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. – Two things we need to note here. For purpose – first evangelism, go teach other people. And second edification, teach them to observe all things. (teaching)
ii. A little later on in Acts we see another thing that involved the disciples of Christ and that was benevolence. Acts 11:27-30 - 27. And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. 28. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. 29. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: 30. Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. – As you read the New Testament you will discover these three purposes for the Lord’s church continue to be described.
iii. In our life entertainment, recreation and such are certainly important things, but these are not the purpose given in scripture for the church. These are not the function of the Lord’s church! Go preach, yes. Go teach, yes. Go help people, yes. James 1:27 - ...visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep yourself unspotted from the world., yes, do that. Those are the purposes of the Lord’s church. When we deviate from those purposes we are no longer the Lord’s church. We become an institution that is interested in other things.
G. What’s the point?
i. If we are to be the church that is described in the New Testament, we absolutely must follow the pattern that is revealed in scripture. When we depart from the pattern we are no longer the Lord’s church.
ii. It is vital that we be more than pious. I commend religious people everywhere. But that simply is not enough. - we must accept and practice the faith clearly revealed in scripture. (Jude 3 - Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.) The faith here is that body of truth in which we believe, the pattern of scripture. The word translated here as “once” is a word of finality which means “once for all time”. The truth which is to be believed and practiced was revealed and delivered the one time in the scripture for all time. There is not a new truth today. Just the truth that is revealed in the word of God. We must have no creed but God’s word, specifically the New Testament.
iii. Should we not, then, be so much more evangelistic than we are now? If these things are all true, and I believe they are, and will preach them until my life is over.
iv. I plead with you to think scripturally ... of the Lord’s church

CLOSE: I would conclude with John 13:35 - “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
In order to be the Lord’s church we absolutely must hold tenaciously to the pattern that is revealed in this book. The pattern for how one enters the pattern for worship, the pattern for organization, the pattern for purpose. Secondly among us, as the disciples of Jesus Christ, there must be love one for another. Follow the pattern and love each other.
In the 11th chapter of the book of Mathew beginning at verse 28 is a very beautiful text. 28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Jesus invites all to come unto Him. He is calling still and has not ceased. As we sing our invitation song I wonder if there might not be someone in this assembly who has heard His calling and yet failed to answer. Someone who for whatever reason has not conformed to the pattern of how one enters the Lord’s church. Believing, pertinent, willing to confess that Jesus is the Christ, and desiring to be baptized into His body. There is no other way into the body but this, just one way. If you need to be part of the body of Christ and are not then I ask that as we sing this song to think about His calling to you, you are being invited by the Lord. This is the most precious of invitations. Take it seriously and respond to what the Lord wants for you. If you need to come and we can help you in any way we invite you to come while we stand and while we sing.

Cecil A. Hutson

09 October 2005