Chafer Bible Doctrines: Section 7- The church, her members

The Church:

Her Members

Wednesday 10 August 2011

A. The church as the present purpose of God

In this age the church is the central purpose of God.It is the company of believers, Jew and Gentile, called out of the world joined together and living in unity by the baptism of the Spirit.1. The church is an organism - a living union of all true believers - this started at Pentecost and will culminate in the 2nd coming of Christ when the church will be caught up and taken to heaven.

DobsonflyThis is a relative of the fireflies - found commonly in North and Central America, it displays vivid ugliness. This is a picture of a Dobsonfly under the microscope -the actual insect is long and narrow and of a very dark color. It’s equipped with an irritating smell for defense.


A. The church as the present purpose of God

In this age the church is the central purpose of God.It is the company of believers, Jew and Gentile, called out of the world joined together and living in unity by the baptism of the Spirit.1. The church is an organism - a living union of all true believers - this started at Pentecost and will culminate in the 2nd coming of Christ when the church will be caught up and taken to heaven.

DobsonflyThis is a relative of the fireflies - found commonly in North and Central America, it displays vivid ugliness. This is a picture of a Dobsonfly under the microscope -the actual insect is long and narrow and of a very dark color. It’s equipped with an irritating smell for defense.


2. The local church is a group of professing believers in one locality or a group of such assemblies - 1 Cor 1:2, Gal 1:2

Church is a translation of the Greek ekklesia - it is often used of an assembly of people gathered for religious or political purposes. It means “called out ones” coming from the practice of democracy in Greek cities where when exercising their vote a person would be called out, or it can be the assembly itself.


2. The local church is a group of professing believers in one locality or a group of such assemblies - 1 Cor 1:2, Gal 1:2

Church is a translation of the Greek ekklesia - it is often used of an assembly of people gathered for religious or political purposes. It means “called out ones” coming from the practice of democracy in Greek cities where when exercising their vote a person would be called out, or it can be the assembly itself.


Ekklesia is found in the septuagint and is used as a translation of some OT assemblies. Acts 7:38, 19:32 have a similar meaning of a gathered crowd.Referring to the body of Christ it is a technical term - those called out of the world, joined together and living in union with Christ. Such an idea is not found in the OT.


B. The church: a New Testament revelation

A church of Jews and Gentiles is not found in the OT - only the New. God’s plan involved Christ coming dying and ascending first - once the Spirit came at Pentecost a special company of believers could be formed with none of the previous distinction and a place in the eternal plan of God.


Acts 2 (Acts 10, 1 Cor 12:13) confirm believers being baptised into the HSp. And becoming members of one another.Salvation meant becoming part of the body of Christ and being baptised into the HSp.When the church is complete it will be taken up to heaven in the Rapture - there will be a period in the tribulation and millennial kingdom where the distinction of Jew and Gentile then returns with regard to salvation.


C. The Jew, the Gentile and the church of God

In this age there are 3 categories of people; Jew, Gentile, church of God - 1 cor 10:321. Jews, the children of Israel, are the line of Abraham, Isaac and Joseph, the earthly people chosen by God.God has miraculously preserved this people and they will become dominant, glorified people of God again in the coming age - Isa 62:1-12


C. The Jew, the Gentile and the church of God

In this age there are 3 categories of people; Jew, Gentile, church of God - 1 cor 10:321. Jews, the children of Israel, are the line of Abraham, Isaac and Joseph, the earthly people chosen by God.God has miraculously preserved this people and they will become dominant, glorified people of God again in the coming age - Isa 62:1-12

Gods promises to them are unchanging:National entity - Jer 31:36Land - Gen 13:15Throne - 2 Sam 7:13King - Jer 33:20-21Kingdom - 2 Sam 7:164 words describe the outworking of Gods purpose for this people;Chosen - scattered - gathered - blessedRom 9:4-5


2. The Gentiles - the vast majority who have lived on earth from Adam until now.Only certain individuals have had a special part in God’s plan or purpose - but prophecies say they will receive a great blessing in the future earthly kingdom. In this age they partake of the privileges of the gospel.

Claudio Gentile -1982 world cup final - won 3-1 against West Germany


3. The church of God is all of the redeemed who will have been saved in this present age.a) All individuals are born again to enter the KOG and will be conformed to the image of Christ. Jn 3:5, Rom 8:29b)they are no longer in Adam but in Christ taking part in the new creation and resurrection life and glory - 2 Cor 5:17, Eph 1:3, Col 2:10c) their nationality now is in Christ - no Jew or Gentile - Col 3:11d) they are citizens of heaven - and promises, position and possessions are such - 2 Cor 5:17-18


3. The church of God is all of the redeemed who will have been saved in this present age.a) All individuals are born again to enter the KOG and will be conformed to the image of Christ. Jn 3:5, Rom 8:29b)they are no longer in Adam but in Christ taking part in the new creation and resurrection life and glory - 2 Cor 5:17, Eph 1:3, Col 2:10c) their nationality now is in Christ - no Jew or Gentile - Col 3:11d) they are citizens of heaven - and promises, position and possessions are such - 2 Cor 5:17-18


D. The church formed from both Jews and Gentiles

God in this present age has placed Jew and Gentile on common ground - Rom 3:9 - they are in sin and need salvation by grace alone.Chafer states that at the death of Christ the covenants with the Jews were not abrogated (done away with/repealed) but set aside for a time - this is hard for Jews to understand! (see Acts)


Jews will remain in this blinded state for a while - Rom 11:25 - after a while a deliverer will come out from Zion and turn away ungodliness from Jacob - Rom 11:26-27 (God’s covenant with them is that he will take away their sins).Through preaching the Gospel Jews and gentiles are added until the church is complete. Paul preached first to Jews - Rom 1:16, Acts 17:1-3


Chafer states 2 revelations were given to Paul;1. The gospel of grace - in Arabia at the start of his ministry - Gal 1:11-122. The church, the body of Christ - whilst he was in prison - Eph 3:3-6In the church God is now forming a new body - Eph 2:15 - this mystery was a previously unrevealed divine secret, i.e. in the OT we see God had plans for Jews and gentiles but it was not understood that there was a plan for a new heavenly order where the 2 become 1.


E. Church membership

Can a person be saved and not be a church member? You can be a Christian and not a member of a local church. When saved we should choose to fellowship with the people of God in some form.You cannot be saved and not be a a part of Christ’s body - a part of his work was the uniting of believers into one body - we are baptised into the body of Christ - 1 Cor 12:13


On earth the church are a pilgrim band of witnesses - not of the world, Jn 17:6 What we shall be is yet to be fully revealed - Col 3:2 -When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.1 Jn 3:2 -Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.


On earth the church are a pilgrim band of witnesses - not of the world, Jn 17:6 What we shall be is yet to be fully revealed - Col 3:2 -When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.1 Jn 3:2 -Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.


Chafer Bible Doctrines: Section 7- The church, her members

Spiritual

church of godin

church of jews

local church

church ofgod

church of godgods age

preservedthis people

present age

coming age isa62