“To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen”... Ephesians 3:21
“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”...Ephesians 4:11-13
“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. “... Mark 16:15
The information below is not of my concerns alone, but these points were shared over 100 years ago by a prominent Bible theologian and scholar Clarence Larkin. It was at this time of “enlightenment” that many christian sects and groups were forming. Larkin warned the Church at that time of these false doctrines slipping into mainstream Christianity and what the outcome would be; We see it today ! So, beloved we must know not only our identity in Christ, but our identity as the “ekklesia” lest we be deceived into what Larkin warned would be the final outcome, an apostate church thinking it was “preparing the world for the kingdom”, yet they were actually in partnership with the world serving the purposes of the antichrist in the last days.
The church, which began in Acts 2, exists for three specific, divinely ordained reasons. First, the church exists to glorify God. Second, the church exists to edify or build up members. God has placed spiritual gifts in the body of Christ for the purpose of our being built up, so to become spiritually mature, and reach unity. Third, the church exists for the purpose of accomplishing world evangelism and to fulfill the Great Commission.
So your views as the true purpose of the church and your understanding of what the first century followers of Jesus Christ believed they were called out to do will affect the way you walk out your faith and assignments in the Lord.
As in years past and becoming manifest again today some are promoting an understanding that does not express the truth about the true purpose and nature of the ekklesia and its connection to the Messianic kingdom. One of these movements is the “kingdom now dominion theology," this teaching significantly alters the divine design for the church. This view opens the door not only to deception, but becomes a major distractions to the true gospel message of the first century and our Lord Jesus Christ being preached.
Part of the “kingdom now theology” brings this basic assumption: The church in some sense is the kingdom, and therefore has a divine right to rule; or it is the business of the church to “establish” fully the Kingdom of God among men. However, by doing this we lose our “pilgrim” character, and effectively become part of the world in seeking to grasp the reins of political power and rule by the sword.The implications of a “present ecclesiastical kingdom” are unmistakable, and has historically always led in one direction, political control of the state by the church. Thus, misleading the body from God’s design for his church, which is too evangelize and make disciples by teaching and preaching the Gospel, the essence of the Great Commission. We the ekklesia are to be a positive influence in this fallen culture, a light in the darkness, but we are not called to rule and reign in the PRESENT AGE with kingdom authority. It is at Christ’s return that HE WILL establish his earthly, Messianic Kingdom, the church is to await until that glorious day. (2 Timothy 4:1-8) The administration of which we are apart and awaiting. (Ephesians 1:9-10 ; also see Colossians 1:13-20)
Seeing the church as the kingdom also causes the church to substitute social causes for the preaching of the true gospel. The gospel becomes eclipsed by humanitarian concerns, then our priorities become out of order. The gospel should move us to charitable acts, but it should not be allowed to distract us from our true purpose and calling.
One final thought on this, our understanding as to Israel’s position and purpose in the last days is also essential to our knowing our purpose of being the “called out ones”. The church has never replaced Israel in His eternal purposes! Jesus Christ - Yeshua is called the King of Israel, not the King of the church. He was declared the King of the Jews and will reign on the throne of King David on earth during the Messianic kingdom for 1000 years. ( John 1:19; 12:13 ; Matthew 27:11, 27, 37, 42 ) The Eternal Kingdom is a different separate kingdom in purpose and scope which we will discuss later. Remember precision in terms is very important to interpretation and application in context of scripture.
Repeating for emphasis:
The church, which began in Acts 2, exists for three specific, divinely ordained reasons. First, the church exists to glorify God. Second, the church exists to edify or build up members. God has placed spiritual gifts in the body of Christ for the purpose of our being built up, so to become spiritually mature, and reach unity. Third, the church exists for the purpose of accomplishing world evangelism and to fulfill the Great Commission.
Answers to Last week’s Questions:
confused with the hierarchal arrangement of the Catholic Church.
5. Did the first century church indicate in anyway they were to take dominion or
authority over the governments of the earth before Christ’s return to setup His
Messianic Kingdom? Initially Jesus disciples thought he would set up His earthly kingdom at that time, however, the Lord corrected their understanding and gave them the assignment of being no part of this world, but fight the good fight of the faith, preaching, teaching, and be at the work of evangelism until He returns. On “That DAY” they will sit with him in His kingdom. The Messianic Kingdom is a literal earthly kingdom that will be established in Jerusalem when Jesus the Messiah returns and He will sit on the throne of David as He is the King of Israel.
This week’s Questions:
1. What is the true purpose for the ekklesia?
2. What did the first century believers feel was their divine commission?
3. What were Jesus’ specific instructions to His followers?
4. What is the gospel?
5. How does our view of the Messianic Kingdom affect our understanding our assignment as the ekklesia?
“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”...Ephesians 4:11-13
“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. “... Mark 16:15
The information below is not of my concerns alone, but these points were shared over 100 years ago by a prominent Bible theologian and scholar Clarence Larkin. It was at this time of “enlightenment” that many christian sects and groups were forming. Larkin warned the Church at that time of these false doctrines slipping into mainstream Christianity and what the outcome would be; We see it today ! So, beloved we must know not only our identity in Christ, but our identity as the “ekklesia” lest we be deceived into what Larkin warned would be the final outcome, an apostate church thinking it was “preparing the world for the kingdom”, yet they were actually in partnership with the world serving the purposes of the antichrist in the last days.
The church, which began in Acts 2, exists for three specific, divinely ordained reasons. First, the church exists to glorify God. Second, the church exists to edify or build up members. God has placed spiritual gifts in the body of Christ for the purpose of our being built up, so to become spiritually mature, and reach unity. Third, the church exists for the purpose of accomplishing world evangelism and to fulfill the Great Commission.
So your views as the true purpose of the church and your understanding of what the first century followers of Jesus Christ believed they were called out to do will affect the way you walk out your faith and assignments in the Lord.
As in years past and becoming manifest again today some are promoting an understanding that does not express the truth about the true purpose and nature of the ekklesia and its connection to the Messianic kingdom. One of these movements is the “kingdom now dominion theology," this teaching significantly alters the divine design for the church. This view opens the door not only to deception, but becomes a major distractions to the true gospel message of the first century and our Lord Jesus Christ being preached.
Part of the “kingdom now theology” brings this basic assumption: The church in some sense is the kingdom, and therefore has a divine right to rule; or it is the business of the church to “establish” fully the Kingdom of God among men. However, by doing this we lose our “pilgrim” character, and effectively become part of the world in seeking to grasp the reins of political power and rule by the sword.The implications of a “present ecclesiastical kingdom” are unmistakable, and has historically always led in one direction, political control of the state by the church. Thus, misleading the body from God’s design for his church, which is too evangelize and make disciples by teaching and preaching the Gospel, the essence of the Great Commission. We the ekklesia are to be a positive influence in this fallen culture, a light in the darkness, but we are not called to rule and reign in the PRESENT AGE with kingdom authority. It is at Christ’s return that HE WILL establish his earthly, Messianic Kingdom, the church is to await until that glorious day. (2 Timothy 4:1-8) The administration of which we are apart and awaiting. (Ephesians 1:9-10 ; also see Colossians 1:13-20)
Seeing the church as the kingdom also causes the church to substitute social causes for the preaching of the true gospel. The gospel becomes eclipsed by humanitarian concerns, then our priorities become out of order. The gospel should move us to charitable acts, but it should not be allowed to distract us from our true purpose and calling.
One final thought on this, our understanding as to Israel’s position and purpose in the last days is also essential to our knowing our purpose of being the “called out ones”. The church has never replaced Israel in His eternal purposes! Jesus Christ - Yeshua is called the King of Israel, not the King of the church. He was declared the King of the Jews and will reign on the throne of King David on earth during the Messianic kingdom for 1000 years. ( John 1:19; 12:13 ; Matthew 27:11, 27, 37, 42 ) The Eternal Kingdom is a different separate kingdom in purpose and scope which we will discuss later. Remember precision in terms is very important to interpretation and application in context of scripture.
Repeating for emphasis:
The church, which began in Acts 2, exists for three specific, divinely ordained reasons. First, the church exists to glorify God. Second, the church exists to edify or build up members. God has placed spiritual gifts in the body of Christ for the purpose of our being built up, so to become spiritually mature, and reach unity. Third, the church exists for the purpose of accomplishing world evangelism and to fulfill the Great Commission.
Answers to Last week’s Questions:
- As a “called out one” what was the first century believer’s concept of the church’s purpose, function and role in the earth? To be a witness of the Gospel into the whole world, by preaching, teaching and making disciples of Jesus Christ.
- Who was the leader or Lord of first century believers, both believing Jew and Gentile? They looked to one leader as their Lord Jesus Christ, they looked at his disciples as teachers of the gospel to build up and edify the body.
- What had He called them out to do? Matthew 28:18-20, and they were to become ambassadors of the gospel or ambassadors for Christ; to act as a representative of Christ preaching the gospel of Christ. ( 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Ephesians 6:20) They were to witness or testify about Him and how God had opened the door to salvation to not only the Jews, but also to the Gentiles.
- What form governance was in place for the early church body? Or was there one? The first century church followed the Jewish order within the congregation, that of a counsel of elders who presided over the needs of fellow believers as servant leaders. examples of: Acts 6:1-6; 13:1-4 ;15:1-35 Also see Strong’s #4245 ;of which
confused with the hierarchal arrangement of the Catholic Church.
5. Did the first century church indicate in anyway they were to take dominion or
authority over the governments of the earth before Christ’s return to setup His
Messianic Kingdom? Initially Jesus disciples thought he would set up His earthly kingdom at that time, however, the Lord corrected their understanding and gave them the assignment of being no part of this world, but fight the good fight of the faith, preaching, teaching, and be at the work of evangelism until He returns. On “That DAY” they will sit with him in His kingdom. The Messianic Kingdom is a literal earthly kingdom that will be established in Jerusalem when Jesus the Messiah returns and He will sit on the throne of David as He is the King of Israel.
This week’s Questions:
1. What is the true purpose for the ekklesia?
2. What did the first century believers feel was their divine commission?
3. What were Jesus’ specific instructions to His followers?
4. What is the gospel?
5. How does our view of the Messianic Kingdom affect our understanding our assignment as the ekklesia?