Leaves Of Gold

A Call To Return To Biblical Teaching

"…to contend earnestly for the faith…"

Year One, number 6                        June                                                         2006

 

     

CHRISTIAN LIFE MASTER OUTLINES  from "The Christian Life Bible" published by Thomas Nelson, notes by Porter L. Barrington.  MASTER OUTLINE NUMBER FIVE

The Sovereignty of God

      The sovereignty of God is a theological term well established in the Bible and confirmed in all His works. "Known to God from eternity are all His works" (Acts 15:18, page 1109). His sovereignty is not only an attribute, but His prerogative grounded upon His eternal Godhead. This means that our sov­ereign God has absolute authority and right of dominion over all of His creation, because He is the self-existent Creator (Gen. 1 :1). He has the sovereign right to do whatever pleases Him (Ps. 115:3). It may not look as though God is in charge of all nations at all times, but He is; and He will remain in sovereign power throughout all time and eternity (Ps. 22:28; cf. 50:1). God is both sovereign Creator (He made all things) and Sustainer (He keeps all things functioning of His Creation, Ps. 19:1, 2.

(1) He is in absolute control of all things and all people.

(2) "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28).

(3) All of the powers of darkness, sin, Satan, demons, and the wickedness of mankind cannot alter the purpose of our sovereign God.

I. The Sovereignty of God Defined, Genesis 17:1.

      It is impossible for the finite mind to fully comprehend the sovereignty of God.  When He appeared to Abraham He said "I am the Almighty God".  We can only know Almighty God, as he is revealed to us in His infallible Word.  Moses said, "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law", Deut. 29:29.  Only eternity will be long enough for us to understand all there is to know about our sovereign God.  Until then, we must b satisfied with "those things which are revealed" and wait for the complete revelation of His glory when He returns to this planet.

      Therefore, to attempt to explain the sovereignty of God is an attempt to put into words the inexplicable.  We must search God's Word for "those thing, which are revealed" that will help us to begin to grasp His sovereignty.  Sovereignty means that God has supreme authority and power over the universe.  All other authority is delegated.  It means that He has all power over, and absolute control of, all things in heaven, and all things on earth, Matthew 28:18.

      Writing of the sovereignty of God, the apostle Paul must have recorded these profound words in a state of awe and worship: "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unreachable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!  For who has known the mind of the LORD?  Or who has become His counselor", Romans 11:34, 35.  When the prophet Isaiah compared the sovereignty of nations with the sovereignty of God, he said, "Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales", Isa. 40:15.  Sovereign nations have boundaries, but the sovereignty of God knows no boundaries and is under no external restraints.  It is immeasurable, without limits of any kind.

II. The Sovereignty of God at Work, Habakkuk 1:1-11.

      Like so many of God's children, Habakkuk did not understand how his sovereign God worked.  He was frustrated and baffled: why had not Almighty God corrected the corruption in Judah?  He prayed, "O LORD, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear?"  Then Habakkuk listed the evils of Judah: violence, iniquity, oppression, tyranny, strife, discord.

      God answered Habakkuk: "I will work a work in your days which you would not believ, though it were told you" (v. 5).  God is the sovereign "I AM WHO I AM", Exodus 3:13, 14.  He is not obligated to reveal the what or why of His works, even when we think God is not working and we cry, "Why, O Lord?"

      God did tell Habakkuk what He was doing, vs. 6-11, using an ungodly nation (the Chaldeans) to punish Judah, "…the apple of His eye…", Zech. 2:8.  Judah was shocked and refused to believe what Habakkuk told them that God was doing.  So, Habakkuk prayed, "O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years…in wrath remember mercy", Hab. 3:2.  His prayer was highly emotional, because he could not understand God's unusual actions.  But who can full y understand the workings of our sovereign God?  No one.  For if we could, we would have knowledge that spans all eternity.  Only our Sovereign God is omniscience.  When we cry, "Why, O Lord?" the answer is "Whatever the LORD pleases He does, in heaven and in earth", Ps. 135:6, cf. Ps. 115:3.  God[s sovereignty is free from imperfection; it is absolute.
III. The Sovereignty of God illustrated, Jeremiah 18:1-12.

      In the darkest hour of Jeremiah's ministry, God gave him a vision of His sovereign throne.  It is called "a glorious high throne from the beginning…the place of our sanctuary", Jer. 17:12.  His throne is the place of worship and refuge.  Without this great and comforting truth, the doctrine of the sovereignty of God would be a dreaded and frightening fact.  We would live in constant f ear.  But now we know that Hi throne "is the place of our (the believer's) sanctuary", a refuge to flee to.  And someday we, who are believers, can come bodily to the place where the Lord Jesus is seated with His Father, on the Father's throne, Rev. 3:21.  It is also called the "throne of grace", Heb. 4:16, where we can find refuge from the powers of Satan, demons, temptations, and sins of the flesh.  It is truly a "glorious high throne".

      In this chapter 18, on the background of the vision of the sovereign throne in chapter 17, Jeremiah can better understand sovereignty as it is illust rated and interpreted at the potter's house.  The first thing he learned from the potter was that God is sovereign, that He has unlimited authority over all things, and that He always creates and molds everything perfectly.  Now we come t o the purpose of sovereignty.  The potter was molding a clay vessel on the wheel; he was a skilled craftsman, he had a purpose for his work, and he knew what he was making.  But his purpose was thwarted when the clay "was marred in the hand of the potter (not by the hand of the potter); so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make", v. 4.   Now the lesson shines forth in sovereign grace:  "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter? says the Lord.  Look, as the clay is in the potter[s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel", v. 6.  God, in sovereign grace, would make Judah and Jerusalem into another vessel; but they refused.  So God sent them into captivity for seventy years.  By doing so, He remolded them as He desired.

      God is sovereign over all nations and individuals.  He either dispenses sovereign judgment or bestows sovereign grace, according to His just nature.  But He never punishes or shows grace arbitrarily; He always has a purpose that befits His Holy Character.

IV. The Sovereignty of God and Salvation, Romans 8:29, 30.

      In this profound and difficult portion of Scripture we have five words that must be taken in the order given by the Holy Spirit if we are to understand the sovereignty of God in salvation.

1. Foreknow, "…for whom He foreknew…", v. 29.  God's foreknowledge is not like our foreknowledge.  Human foreknowledge means simply to know beforehand, i.e., to have foresight of things to come.  Our "foreknowledge" is naturally very imperfect, very fallible.  But with God t he entire course of history, in every detail, is perfectly clear and settled.  This is why history is sometimes referred to as "His story".

      Actually, God's "knowledge" is even more active than this.  The biblical Hebrew and Greek words for "know" and "foreknow" commonly have a more profound meaning.  This is seen in God's remark concerning Abraham, as correctly translated "For I have known him, in order that he may command hisCreated by DPE, Copyright IRIS 2005 children and his household" (Gen. 18:19). As in similar cases where the word "know" is used, God here indicates a special relationship which He had established between Himself and Abraham. This special personal, unmerited relationship was the basis of everything God had eternally decided to do with Abro - ~­and Abraham's people. It is in this way that God also speaks to Jeremiah: "Before I formed you in the womb ­I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you" (Jer. 1:5). In this sense Paul also writes to the Romans, "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son" (v.29).  God saves us by grace (unmerited favor) because He "knew" us by grace-before we were born. To see how this truth relates to the truth of our responsibility before God, see Point 5-E, "The Sovereignty of God and the Responsibility of Mankind" 

(2) Predestinate. "He also predestined" (v. 29). "Predestination," "election," and "being chosen" have similar meaning in God's Word. Therefore, predestination, election, or being chosen is always according to God's "foreknowledge," as in the case of Abraham and Jeremiah. Predestination is threefold: 

(a) God predestines nations according to His foreknowledge. According to His foreknowledge, i.e., according to His previous and unmerited favor, He chose Israel to fulfill His sovereign purpose (Gen. 12:1-3, cf. Is. 41:8,9; Matt. 24:21-24).

(b) God predestines individuals for service according to His foreknowledge. Thus He chose Moses to lead Israel, His chosen nation, out of Egypt (Ex. 3:1-14). When God has a work to do on planet earth, He chooses a man or woman to accomplish His sovereign purpose.

(c) He predestines individuals to eternal salvation by the same principle-according to His ­foreknowledge. This means that He intimately and eternally knows those who will believe on His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31).

      Predestination means that God, in His sovereign will, chooses to save those who, according to His eternal foreknowledge, will surely believe in Him (John 3:14-16).

(3) Called. "He also called" (v. 30). Foreknowledge and predestination precede calling. God in eternity past called nations good and bad to fulfill His sovereign purpose on this earth.  He calls individuals to serve ­Him in spiritual ministries, according to His sovereign will. He calls sinners to repentance and salvation according to His sovereign grace (Eph. 2:8-10). "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world" (Eph. 1:4, 5). God has chosen us and called us to salvation by grace. Grace is unmerited favor. We are not called upon to decide whether God has chosen us. The responsibility is ours to respond affirmatively to His free offer of salvation in Christ.

(4) Justified. "He also justified" (v. 30). Foreknowledge, predestination, and calling precede justification.  To be justified is to be judicially declared righteous by God through faith in the vicarious death, burial and bodily resurrection of God's only begotten Son, the lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-4). God calls the sinner to salvation by His sovereign grace; the sinner answers the call by faith. Then God judicially declares the sinner righteous, whom He elected (chose) according to His foreknowledge.

(5) Glorified. "He also glorified" (v. 30). Foreknowledge, predestination, calling, and justification precede glorification. Glorification of the saved will complete the believer's redemption; Christ died to save the whole man, "spirit, soul, and body" (1 Thess. 5:23). Our salvation will not be complete until Jesus returns to this earth, raptures the saved, and glorifies their bodies. John tells us, "We know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:1, 2). All believers will be glorified when Jesus comes. When we see our God and Savior Jesus Christ in His glorified body "we shall be like Him." Our new bodies will be like His eternal glorious body. But there will be one difference -- His glorified body will bear the scars of Calvary forever; ours will not (Zech. 13:6).

V. . The Sovereignty of God and the Responsibility of Mankind (Romans 9:1-24)- The subject before us, which the apostle Paul addresses in a forthright way, has been very controversial in the experience of the Christian church throughout history. How can God be absolutely sovereign, while man is completely responsible for his own decisions and actions? We have elsewhere shown, and the Scriptures affirm, that there are mysteries in God's secret will and knowledge that necessarily defy human comprehension, just because these mysteries are understood completely by God alone. God is God, and man is man.

      As humans-indeed, sinful humans-we dare not imagine that we will ever comprehend more than we have been gifted to understand, even in our finally glorified state in the presence of God. Thus, when Paul says, "It is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy" (v. 16), we bow before this truth, and acknowledge our inability to penetrate all that is said here. Similarly, when he says, "Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens" (v. 18). However, at the same time, Paul makes clear that God holds us accountable for our response to His overtures of grace, love, and government: "Who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, 'Why have you made me like this?'" (v. 20). So Paul makes clear that God is truly sovereign, and we are truly responsible. Further, he says, we have no reasonable basis for questioning these truths merely because they cannot humanly be understood-in the same way, for example, that the Trinity cannot humanly be understood. God has the right, grounded in His sovereignty, goodness, and trustworthiness, to expect and demand that we trust Him with all things-both the seemingly easy and the seemingly difficult matters of His self-revelation. Therefore, in reverence and obedience, let us resolve not to question the ways of God that surpass our understanding. Rather, let us humbly respond to His earnest invitation to become His adopted, compliant children through the finished work of Christ presented in the gospel.  (These studies will continue)

 

"Rightly Dividing The Word" Clarence Larkin

III. Jew and Gentile

      The Scriptures treat of "Three Classes" of Persons. The "Jews," the "Gentiles," and the "Church of God." The Jews and the Gentiles are distinct from each other, while the Church of God is composed of both Jews and Gentiles, but not as Jews or Gentiles but as a "New Body." All the human race that are not Jews are Gen­tiles. The Jews date back to Abraham, and became a distinct and separate nation at the Exodus. The most of the Old Testament is taken up with their history. They

are an earthly people, while the "Church of God" are a heavenly people. Like the Jews the "Church of God" had a beginning. It began during the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ and will end chronologically at the Second Coming of Christ.

      At the present time the Jews are, as a nation, "side­tracked." When the "redeemed" are taken out of the world, the Jews will again be restored to their own land and become the "Road of the Nations." Nationally the Gentiles now govern the earth. This is what the Scrip­tures speak of as the "Times of the Gentiles." Luke 21 :24.

1. THE JEWS

      As has been said the Jews had their origin in the morning time of history when God called Abraham, a  Shemite, to be the father of a new nation. Gen. 12: 1-3.  God appeared to Abraham 10 times. These appearances were called "Theophanies," and were progressive and unconditional in their promises, and the promises were unconditionally confirmed to Abraham's son Isaac (Gen. 26: 1-4), and to his grandson Jacob. Gen. 28: 10-15.

      The history of the Jewish race is without a parallel in human history. Though oppressed, downtrodden, car­ried captive to other lands and scattered through the nations, the Jew has outlived all his conquerors and walks unscathed amid the nations. Any other race would. have been swallowed up and its identity and national char­acteristics lost. The preservation of the Jewish race is the "MIR.ACLE OF HISTORY." Their "Emblem" is a "BUSH BURNING AND UNCONSUMED."

No nation has ever had such manifest and visible tokens of the "Divine Presence." For them the Red Sea was driven back and the Jordan parted. They were miraculously fed in the Wilderness and Divinely sheltered and guided by the "Pillar of Cloud and Fire." At the blowing of "ram's horns" the walls of a besieged city fell (Joshua 6; 1-27), and the Sun and Moon stayed in their courses that they might have time to slay their enemies. Joshua 10: 12-14. The "Angel of the Lord" encamped about them, and one angel slew 185,000 of the army of Assyria for their deliverance. 2 Kings 19; 35. No nation has given to the world such a number of great men. Such a man of faith as Abraham; such a great leader and lawgiver as Moses; such statesmen as Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon; such a king as David, and wise man as Solomon. No nation has produced such "seers" as the Hebrew Prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Eze­kiel and Daniel, and no such man as that man above all men, the "Man of Galilee"

      In the first Christian century there is no name that shines more resplendent than that of the Apostle Paul. And in modern days the men who have made and are making history are JEWS.

      How are we to account for the wonderful preserva­tion of the Jewish Race? Only on the supposition that God had, and still has, some great work for them to do. In the first place they were raised up to reaffirm and teach that there was but ONE God. In the second place to be the Writers, Preservers and Transmitters of the Holy Scriptures. To them were committed the "ORA­CLES of God." Rom. 3: 1-2. Every page and book in the Bible was written by Jews. The Jews took especial care to preserve the Scriptures and keep them from being tampered with. In the third place they were raised up that God through them might give the world a SAVIOUR. Who was Jesus? A JEW. In the forth place they were raised up that they might save the world from moral putrefaction. When Jesus said, "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4: 22), did He simply mean that from them should come the Savior-Jesus? or did He mean, as when He said-"YE Are the 'SALT OF THE EARTH,'" that the Jewish Race were to be the means of preventing the "Moral Putrefaction" of the world, and that if they became extinct as a nation the world would be ripe for judgment? The writer thinks he meant the latter, and that the salvation of the Nations, morally and physically, and the preservation of the human race on the earth depends on the preservation and continuance of the Jews as a RACE.

      The present degenerate condition of the world is owing to the fact that the Jews have lost their savor, as the salt its saltness, and until they recover it degener­ation will continue to develop until the time comes that the smell of the decomposition of the decaying nation­alities of the earth shall call for Divine interposition and the Jewish SALT be resavored by the conversion of the Jews, and their becoming the leading nation of the world.

      For the Jews today there is no "Pillar of Cloud" by day, nor "Shechinah Flame" by night. They have no altars, no sacrifices, no priesthood as in former days. They observe the "Passover," but no paschal lamb is slain. They keep the "Great Day of Atonement," but no blood is shed to make reconciliation for sin. All sac­rifices and oblations have ceased. They have no King, no Judges, no Prophets, no inspired writers. The "Urim" and "Thummin" give no Divine token. The word of God is precious, but there is no "open vision." Their last Great Prophet was the "Man of Galilee," but Him they rejected. Like their forefathers, who took Joseph, after they had rejected him, and sold him for 20 pieces of silver, and he was hidden from their view in Egypt on the Throne of Pharaoh, so the Jews took Jesus, their Joseph, and having rejected Him, sold Him for 30 pieces of silver, and He is now hidden from them on His Father's Throne.

      Why Is This? Have they been supplanted as a "Nation" by the Gentiles, and as "God's People" by the Church? Are they never again to have a land of their own, and a Existence?

      Is not their condition today the fulfillment of the prophecy of Hosea 3 :4?  "The Children of Israel shall abide MANY DAYS without a King, and without a Prince, and without a Sacrifice, and without an Image, and without an Ephod, and without Teraphim?" Is it not that Jerusalem must be- "Trodden down of the Gentiles until the 'Times of the Gentiles' be fulfilled?" Luke 21 :24.

      What does Paul say- "Blindness in part is happened to Israel until the 'Fulness of the Gentiles' be come in. And so All Israel Shall Be Saved." Rom. 11: 25, 26.

      From these scriptures we see that the Jews have not been supplanted by either the Gentiles or the Church, and when the time comes they will again become a nation.

      We indulge in no idle and profitless speculations when we attempt to forecast the future of the Jewish People. All we have to do is to gather together and place in their logical order what the Holy Spirit through the Proph­ets, has foretold. The method is as simple as the result IS sure.

THE RESTORATION OF THE JEWS

      As to the FACT. "And I will bring again the captivity of my people 'Israel' and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land." Amos. 9: 14, 15.

      But you say this prophecy was fulfilled in. the restora­tion from the "Babylonian Captivity." Not so, for they were driven out of the land after that, and this promise is, that they shall no more be pulled up out of their land, and must refer to some future restoration. The return from the "Babylonian Captivity" was the First restora­tion, and the Scriptures speak of a Second. "And it shall come to pass in "That Day" (Millennial Day) that the Lord shall set his hand again the SECOND TIME to recover the rem­nant of His People, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the Sea." Isa. 11: 11.

      The Jews have never been restored but ONCE, and that was from Babylon. The march from Egypt to Canaan was not a restoration. You cannot have anything restored to you unless it has been in your possession before, and Palestine was never in possession of the Children of Israel until after its conquest by Joshua.

      Again the Jews are· to come this time, not from the "East," as when they returned from the "Babylonish Cap­tivity," but from the "North," and from "All Countries." "Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be said, The Lord liveth, that brought up the Children of Israel out of the Land of Egypt; but the Lord liveth that brought up the Children of Israel from the land of the NORTH and from ALL THE LANDS whither He had driven them; and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers." J er. 16: 14, 15. Also I5a. 43: 5-7.

2. As to the TIME.  When the "TIMES OF THE GENTILES" Have Been Fulfilled. "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be. trodden down of the Gen­tiles, UNTIL the 'Times. of the Gentiles' be ful­filled." Luke 21:24.

3. As to the MANNER.

      Gathered Back UNCONVERTED. "I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. THEN will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness, and from all your idols will I cleanse you. A New Heart also will I give you, and a New Spirit will I put within you; and I will give you an Heart of Flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes; and ye shall keep my judg­ments, and do them." Ezek. 36: 24-27.

      Before Conversion They Are To Be JUDGED. "I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face ... And I will cause you to

'Pass Under The Rod,' and I will bring you into the bond of the Cove­nant; and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against Me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the Land of Israe1." Ezek. 20: 34-38.

      . Then God will cast them into His "Melting Pot." "Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Be­cause ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in Mine anger and in My fury and I will leave you there, and MELT YOU. Yea I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of My wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof. As silver is melted in the midst of the fur­nace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the Lord have poured out My fury upon you." Ezk. 22: 19-22.

      "Behold, I will send My messenger (Elijah-­Malachi 4: 5, 6), and he shall prepare the way before Me, and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His Temple, even the Messen­ger of the Covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a Refiner's Fire, and like Fuller's Soap: and He shall sit as a Refiner and Purifier of Silver: and He shall Purify the Sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness." Malachi 3: 1-3 .

      "And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name and I will hear them: I will say, it is My people; and they shall say, the Lord is my God." Zech. 13: 9.

      The Jews have never as yet had such an experience as this. It is spoken of in J er. 30: 4-7, and Dan. 12: 1, as the "Time of 'Jacob's Trouble,'" and Christ called 1t "THE GREAT TRIBULATION," and He and Zecha­riah the Prophet associate it with the Return of the Lord. Matt. 24:21-31. Zech. 14: 1-11.

      The result of these terrible judgments will be that the Jews will call in their misery upon the Lord. "And I will pour upon the 'House of 8avid' and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem The Spirit of Grace and of Supplications." Zech. 12: 10. Then Christ will come back to Jeru­salem- "And His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives which is before Jerusalem on the east." Zech. 14: 4.

      "And they shall look upon ME Whom They Have Pierced." Zech. 12: 10.

      And a nation, the Jewish Nation, shall be born (con­verted) IN A DAY. "Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a Nation Be Born at Once? for as soon as Zion Travailed, She Brought Forth Her Children." Isa. 66: 8.

      As the Children of Israel when they cam€ out of Egypt took with them of the "Riches of the Egyptians," (Ex. 12: 35, 36), so when they return to their own land they will take with them the "Riches of the Gentiles." Isa.60:9;61:6 ..

      When they return to their own land it will be to possess and occupy all that was promised to Abraham. "The Royal Grant" given by the Almighty to Abraham extended from the .."River of Egypt" unto the "Great River," the River Euphrates (Gen. 15: 18); and according to Ezekiel (Ezek. 48:1-29), from Hamath, north-east of Damascus, to Kadesh on the south. The Temple will be rebuilt. The Glory of the Lord will return. Sacrifices will again be offered.. The Government shall be reestablished, and the nations of the earth will be blessed through Israel. Zech. 8:20-23.   (These studies will continue.  For the charts go to:  http://members.citynet/morton/charts.htm

 

.The Origin of the New Testament Church Institution, by L. M. Branch, Bogard Press, Texarkansa, Tx.

INTRODUCTION: In the last lesson we studied about "God's Plan" in prophecy of the institution of the New Testament church. This lesson is of the actual origin, beginning, or institution of the church. Keep in mind that when we use the word "church" without naming one, or saying "institution," we are simply speaking of the local church in the institutional sense. We never mean to imply that all the saved constitute a universal church. Sometimes we say "the church" and mean the same thing as when we refer to "the home," or "the man." We do not mean your home or mine, or any certain man by this term; we simply use the term in the generic sense. Neither does the term "the home" mean that all individual homes compose a universal home, or all men compose a universal man, but the term "the church" is in the institutional sense.

DEFINITION OF A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH; "A New Testament church is a called out body of baptized believers, covenanted (agreed) together upon the doctrines of Christ, for the purpose of carrying out His will on the earth." Please memorize this definition.

THE MATERIAL FOR THE CHURCH WAS PREPARED ACCORDING TO PLAN, Matthew 15: 13

      John the Baptist prepared the material (members) for it, Luke 1:13-17 and Matthew 3:1-3.

      He was sent from God to do this, John 1:6,29-36 with Matthew 21:23-27.

      In preparing the material (members) for the church, John the Baptist did the following:

             Preached the gospel of Christ as he had been told, Mark 1:1,2; Luke 3:2, 15-18.

             People heard, repented, believed, and were baptized, Matthew 3:6 and John 4:1.

             After they were prepared, they were referred to Christ, John 1:35.

      Now the material for the building of the House of God is ready. It has to be assembled and "fitly framed together." It takes Jesus to do this.

II. JESUS CALLS THE PREPARED MATERIAL TOGETHER AS HIS ASSEMBLY -CHURCH

1. He calls them out and unto Himself, John 1:35-45.

      Out from the Old Testament order, John 1:17 and Matthew 5:17, 18.

      Out from the present world system then, Luke 14:25-33.

      He called men from occupations to preach His faith, Matthew 4:17-22.

      This calling out began in Galilee, not Judea, Acts 10:36,37 and Matthew 4:14,15.

2. He organized this assembly to carry out the purpose for its existence in the world. Read Matthew 5 through 7, Matthew 16:18, and Psalm 127:1. In doing so,

      He ordained apostles to that particular office, I Corinthaisn 12:28 and Acts 1:21, 22.

      They preached to Israel only, and were empowered to do miracles, Matthew 10:5-15.

III. HIS CHURCH WAS, THEREFORE, ASSEMBLED, ORGANIZED, AND IN WORKING ORDER UNDER HIS PERSONAL COMMAND WHILE HE WAS HERE ON EARTH

      His church was sent to preach to Israel only during this time, Matthew 10: 5, 6. This is called the "limited" commission. It is limited to Israel only at this time. It is after the resurrection of Jesus that the world-wide commission is given to the church.

      His church baptized converts under His personal authority and direction, John 4:1,2.

      His church had officers whom He personally trained during His ministry, Acts 1: 1, 2.

      His church had a list of names in the group during this time and later, Acts 1:15.

      His church has His sacred promise that she will continue until He comes again for her, Matthew 18: 18 and Matthew 28:     19, 20.

REVIEW OF THE LESSON IN BRIEF

      God planned the establishment of His church as He has planned all things.

      God sent John the Baptist to prepare the material for His church institution.

      God sent His Son into the world to build, set up, and establish His church. By His divine person, knowledge, ability and    redeeming blood, He established His church upon principles that will perpetuate herself until He comes again, by His   leadership, I Timothy 3:14, 15 and Ephesians 3:21. (These Lessons Will Continue)

 

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