Colossians 1:13-18

“Church” mentioned only twice in the gospels• Both times the word is used by Jesus Himself- 1st time used, He speaks as an architect:

“…on this rock I will build My church” [Mt 16:18]- Both times, He hands the “keys” to the apostles:

“…I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” [Mt 16:19] “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” [Mt 18:18; cp. v. 17]

“Church” mentioned only twice in the gospels• Both times the word is used by Jesus Himself- 1st time used, He speaks as an architect:

“…on this rock I will build My church” [Mt 16:18]- Both times, He hands the “keys” to the apostles:

“…I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” [Mt 16:19]- These “keys” only work in accordance with God’s will

cp. 2 Thess 2:13-14; Gal 1:6-9- The architect entrusted His master work to men’s hands!

cp. Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:14-15, 20- It is only the architect’s work if it follows HIS plan…

cp. Mt 7:21-23 [Lk 6:46]; 1 Pet 4:11 [1 Cor 4:6]

“Church” mentioned only twice in the gospels• Both times the word is used by Jesus Himself- 1st time used, He speaks as an architect:

“…on this rock I will build My church” [Mt 16:18]- Both times, He hands the “keys” to the apostles:

“…I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” [Mt 16:19]- These “keys” only work in accordance with God’s will

cp. 2 Thess 2:13-14; Gal 1:6-9- The architect entrusted His master work to men’s hands!

cp. Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:14-15, 20- It is only the architect’s work if it follows HIS plan…

cp. Mt 7:21-23 [Lk 6:46]; 1 Pet 4:11 [1 Cor 4:6]

Jesus is both “Son of David” & “Son of God”See Romans 1:1-4

Building His church, “the house of God” [1 Tm 3:15],Jesus fulfills the desire of God and of David

See 2 Sam 7:1-2, 8-16; 2 Cor 6:16-18

The Son of David was not building an institution for:feeding/housing, marrying, teaching, entertaining,physical curing, employing, etc. [a DEEPER need!]

- In its most natural sense, “ekklesia was the designation of the regular assembly of the whole body of citizens in a free city-state, “called out” by the herald for the discussion and decision of public business.” [ISBE]

Following the Master’s BlueprintMatthew 16:18

“I will build My church” “Church” = Gk. ekklesia• “ek” = out + “kalein” = to call

See Acts 19:23-41 (32, 39, 41 – “assembly”)

Following the Master’s BlueprintMatthew 16:18

“I will build My church” “Church” = Gk. ekklesia• “ek” = out + “kalein” = to call- In its most natural sense, a public assembly [Acts 19]- By extension, LXX used for “congregation” of Israel

See Neh 8:2; Stephen’s use in Acts 7:38

Following the Master’s BlueprintMatthew 16:18

“I will build My church” “Church” = Gk. ekklesia• “ek” = out + “kalein” = to call- In its most natural sense, a public assembly [Acts 19]- By extension, LXX used for “congregation” of Israel

See Heb 12:22-24; 1 Pet 2:9-10 [“called out”]- By further extension, used of Christians in N.T.

Following the Master’s BlueprintMatthew 16:18

“I will build My church” “Church” = Gk. ekklesia• “ek” = out + “kalein” = to call- In its most natural sense, a public assembly [Acts 19]- By extension, LXX used for “congregation” of Israel

Translated “church” 88 times [NKJV]

- By further extension, used of Christians in N.T.- In reference to the church Jesus built:

Translated “assembly” once [Heb 2:10-12, NKJV]

Following the Master’s BlueprintMatthew 16:18

“I will build My church” “Church” = Gk. ekklesia• “ek” = out + “kalein” = to call- In its most natural sense, a public assembly [Acts 19]- By extension, LXX used for “congregation” of Israel

Used in a local sense: 60 times [NKJV; cp. 1 Cor 1:2]

- By further extension, used of Christians in N.T.- In reference to the church Jesus built: “church” 88 times- Always refers to a meeting of people, nothing else:

Used in a universal sense: 28 times [cp. Eph 1:22-23]Consider: John 10:14-16 – a flock of sheep

Following the Master’s BlueprintMatthew 16:18

“I will build My church”

I have aFLOCK

I have aSHEEPFOLD

John 10:1-2

Following the Master’s BlueprintMatthew 16:18

“I will build My church”

John 10:16

I have aFLOCK (local)

I also have OTHER SHEEP

(universal)

Following the Master’s BlueprintMatthew 16:18

“I will build My church”

Jesus did not build a sheepfold,then look for sheep to put into it

If there were no sheep,there would be no church!

The sheep (the people!) ARE the church!See Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:5;

Acts 2:40-47

Following the Master’s BlueprintMatthew 16:18

“I will build My church”

I see aCHURCH

I see a(church)

BUILDING

Following the Master’s BlueprintMatthew 16:18

“I will build My church”

I see aCHURCH

The CHURCH is an assembly ofGod’s people in

one place (local)

The CHURCH is the sum total of all of God’s people regardless of place or time (universal) [Heb 12:22-23]

Acts11:19-26

Following the Master’s BlueprintMatthew 16:18

“I will build My church”

Misunderstanding of this basic conceptthat the Lord’s church is people is the

fundamental error that leads toINSTITUTIONALISM

Lord willing, the next studies will examinethe history and errant concepts of

the institutional movement

Following the Master’s BlueprintMatthew 16:18

“I will build My church”

The Lord’s desire for you is that you shouldbe saved from your sins

He has made this possible through His Son

1 Timothy 2:1-4

John 3:16

But you must repent and be converted to HimActs 17:30-31; 2:37-41 [Colossians 1:13-14]