The Church part 1

9 March 2018
Foundations of Living: The Church

Introduction: 
The word CHURCH can be found in the New Testament
only. The Greek word is EKKLESIA (1577) which means
'called out ones'. That means called out from their homes
to the gathering.

Ephesians 5:24-27

Matthew 16:18 (Jesus speaking)
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this
rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not 
prevail against it.

1 Peter 2:9
But ye (are) a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy
nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the
praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his
marvelous light. 

So going to CHURCH on Sunday is not about going to a
place (building) but it is a gathering of the CALLED OUT 
ONES.

The bible always compares the church with a marriage.
To understand why check the Hebrew culture of marriage.
In the Hebrew culture the bride only needs to prepare
herself for her groom. But she must be ready not knowing
the exact time and absolutely spotless.
The groom must prepare the room before going to pick up
his bride. There will be a shout when the groom arrives.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/revelation/
related-topics/the-jewish-wedding-analogy.html

As the church, we are the bride of the King of Kings.
His is preparing rooms for us in Heaven and will
return to take us. We just need to be ready. The
trumpet will sound and we will gather in the air
(the rapture). John 14:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

1. The Church is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:11
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that
which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:20
..having been built on the foundation of the apostles
and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief
CORNERSTONE,.....
Church is not another business or programme.
Everything has to be centered around Jesus, the chief
cornerstone. The church must not replace Jesus with
their own doctrines.

2. The Church is the body of Christ. 
Romans 12:5
so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and
individually members of one another.
1 Corinthians 12:27
Now you are the body of Christ, and members
individually.
and it goes on to refer to different members of
the church having different gifts (gift of teaching,
gift of helping, gift of healings...) and roles but
being one body.

3. Christ is the Head of The Church.
One body cannot have two heads.
Otherwise it will have 2 minds and
will malfunction.
Jesus never called anyone to be the head of the
church. We are the body and in subjection
to the head.
Ephesians 1:22-23
And He put all things under His feet, and
gave Him to be the head over all things
to the church, which is His body, the fullness
of Him who fills all in all.

Colossians 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.


Note
Refer to the Jewish festivals including
the firstfruits.
After rising from the dead, Jesus presented
himself to God as the firstfruits. We are
following in his footsteps and will also
rise up from the dead.

1 Peter 3:18-20
This is the reference for the discussion on
what Jesus did in those 3 days between dying
and rising again. It mentions that He went to
preach to the spirits in prison