The Creed

I BELIEVE I BELIEVE in in GodGod the Father Almighty, the Father Almighty, Maker Maker of heaven and earthof heaven and earth: And in : And in Jesus Christ Jesus Christ his his

only only SonSon, , our Lordour Lord; who was conceived by the ; who was conceived by the Holy Holy GhostGhost, , born of the virgin Maryborn of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius , suffered under Pontius Pilate, was Pilate, was crucifiedcrucified, dead, and buried, dead, and buried; he descended ; he descended

into into hellhell; the third day ; the third day he rose again from the he rose again from the deaddead; he ascended into ; he ascended into heavenheaven, and sitteth on the right , and sitteth on the right

hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come he shall come to judge to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Holy

GhostGhost; the holy catholic ; the holy catholic churchchurch; the ; the communioncommunion of of saints; the saints; the forgiveness of sinsforgiveness of sins; the ; the resurrectionresurrection of of

the body; and the the body; and the life everlastinglife everlasting. Amen. Amen

The CreedThe CreedI BELIEVE in the CHURCHI BELIEVE in the CHURCH







Key Question…“What is the Church?”

The Creed – I Believe in the ChurchThe Creed – I Believe in the Church

Is it the Roman Catholic Church…?


Is it a building…?The Creed – I Believe in the ChurchThe Creed – I Believe in the Church


Christ’s Bride (Ephesians 5:22-29) Branches on a vine (John 15:1-10) A Flock (John 10) A Household (Galatians 6:10) A Building/temple with Christ the foundation (Eph. 2:20-22) A Body (1 Cor. 12:12-27)

The Promise of the Church"Gathering them together, He commanded them not to

leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with

the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they were asking Him,

saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the

Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and

Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”"(Acts 1:4-8) The Creed – I Believe in the ChurchThe Creed – I Believe in the Church

The Birth of the Church" When the day of Pentecost

had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from

heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to

them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of

them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as

the Spirit was giving them utterance."(Acts 2:1-4)


The Birth of the Church

1. The feast of Passover2. The feast of First

Fruits3. The feast of

PentecostThe Creed – I Believe in the ChurchThe Creed – I Believe in the Church

The Birth of the Church Came ten days after Christ’s

ascension “Pentecost” means ‘fiftieth day’ The Jews had a feast called the

feast of Pentecost because it took place fifty days after the feast of first fruits, which followed the Passover. It was also called the feast of harvest and feast of weeks

Pentecost also commemorated the giving of the Mosaic law because the Jewish people believe the law was given to them about fifty days after the beginning of their journey to the Promised Land








The “Suddenness” of the Church


The Body of Christ


Two Dimensions of “Church”


Two Dimensions of “Church”


Universal Church Local churchInvisible VisibleOne Church Many churchesAn organism An organizationSaved members Saved and lost membersLiving and dead members Living membersWhole body of Christ Part of the body of ChristChrist is visible Head in heaven

Christ is invisible Head on earth

No elders in deacons Elders and deaconsNo ordinances Two ordinancesNo denomination Many denominations Indestructible Destructible

The Universal Church


"Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona,

because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not

overpower it."(Matthew 16:16-18)

"But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in

prison."(Acts 8:3)

"And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the

fullness of Him who fills all in all."(Ephesians 1:22-23)

"He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have

first place in everything."(Colossians 1:18)



An organic unity as one body (vv. 12-13) A diversity of many members (14-20) A universality because all believers are in it (13) A mutuality because the members mutually edify

one another (21-27) A visibility through its visible members A spiritual animation through the Holy Spirit



The Bride of Christ (Rev. 21:9) The wife of Christ (Eph. 5:24-25) The Firstborn of Christ (Heb. 12:23) The Building of Christ (Eph. 2:20) A Spiritual House (1 Pet. 2:5) A Holy Priesthood (1 Pet. 2:5) A Royal Priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9) A Chosen People (1 Pet. 2:9) The People of God (1 Pet. 2:10) A Flock of Christ (John 21:15-17)







The Local Church


He holds the messengers in His right hand (Rev. 1:20)

He rebukes the churches for their sin (2:9) He commands them to repent (v. 5) He will judge and reward them for their deeds (vv. 5,

10, 26, 3:12) He takes away their lampstand (church) if they are

not faithful (v. 5) He searches all of their minds and hearts (v. 23) He convicts them by His Spirit (3:22)


Government of the Local Church



A position of authority (Acts 22:5)A position of dignity (Prov. 31:23)A position of maturity (1 Tim. 5:1)A position of wisdom An overseer (1 Pet. 2:25)A ruler (2 Tim. 3:16-17)An under-shepherd (1 Pet. 5:1-4)A teacher (1 Tim 3:2)An apologist (Titus 1:9)An arbiter of disputes (1 Cor. 6:1-4)A watchman (Heb. 13:17)Elders are to be men ( 1 Tim 3:2)Should be obeyed, submitted to, honored, entreated (not

rebuked)



Originated with the complaint of widows being overlooked for food (Acts 6).

Deacons were to assist the elders in church serviceRelieve the elders of menial tasks so they (elders) could

concentrate on prayer and ministry of Word of GodIn charge of social and physical ministriesTook care of widows and orphans1 Timothy 3:1-18 lays down the qualifications:

Men worthy of respectNot addicted to wineKeep hold of the deep truths with clear conscienceFirst must be testedMust manage his household and children wellHusband of one wife



The congregation screen their own membership (Jude: unbelievers crept in)

Chose the leadership (Acts 6)Exercised church discipline (1 Cor. 5).Made final decisions in case of offense (Matt 18).Commissioned missionaries (Acts 13).Involved itself with doctrinal decisions (Acts 15).Ultimately ruled with elder guidance

Ordinances of the Local Church


Catholic – seven sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Holy Order, Matrimony

No ordinances – only produce endless supply of conflict that take away from real work.

Berean – one ordinance: the Lord’s Supper

Protestant – two ordinances: baptism and the Lord’s Supper.





Relationship of Church and State


“ “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world,

then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be

handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this

realm.” "(John 18:36)

Although His disciples wanted Him to overthrow the Romans and the Jews were looking for a political

Messiah, Christ’s first coming was not political in nature.

First Coming Was Not Political




Secularism Jeffersonianism

Theocracy

Nature of state Secular Just ReligiousChurch/State Separation Cooperation UnionNature of religious freedom

Freedom from all religions

Freedom for all religions

Freedom for a particular religion

Extent of religious freedom

For none For all For a preferred religion

Belief in God Discouraged Encouraged DemandedBasis of civil law Human

experienceNatural law (gen. Revelation)

Divine law (special revelation)

Example Marxist China Early America Iran



Jefferson believed unalienable rights are rooted in the “Laws of Nature” that derive from “Nature’s God”.

Natural law is not a humanly descriptive “is” but a divinely prescriptive “ought”

Natural law is the first principle governing human action just the laws of logic are the first principles governing human thought



The phrase separation of church and state is generally traced to the letter written by Thomas Jefferson in 1802 to the

Danbury Baptists, in which he referred to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution as creating a "wall of

separation" between church and state.

The Church and Replacement Theology


"Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God;"(1 Corinthians 10:32)


Israel ChurchHeadship Moses ChristOrigin Abraham PentecostNature Earthly (political body) Heavenly (spiritual

body)Governing principle

Law of Moses Grace of Christ

Holy Land Divine inheritance NoneDavidic Covenant

Promised to Israel No promise to Church

Constituents Jews only Jews/GentilesMembership Physical birth Spiritual birthFunction Channel of blessing to

worldGlorify God; Bride of Christ; Provoke Israel



The unconditional covenant and land promises made to Israel has never been fulfilled

A literal, physical Kingdom was offered to Israel but was rejected, and still must come

Jesus foretold a literal reign over Israel at His second coming

The promised Messianic Kingdom was not yet fulfilled at Christ’s ascension

Jesus specifically stated in Acts 1 that the Kingdom would be restored to Israel in Acts 1

Biblical prophecy stated that Israel would physically be re-gathered prior to Christ’ return (happened in May, 1948)



“If the Abrahamic Covenant is unconditional in nature (not dependent upon Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their physical descendants, the people of Israel,

meeting conditions for the fulfillment of its promises), then every promise of that covenant must be fulfilled—including the promises that Israel would be given forever the land described in Genesis15:18,

and that the Abrahamic Covenant would be an everlasting covenant for Israel. This would mean that

Israel would last forever as a people and that God has a future for that nation and its land. It would also

mean that the biblical prophecies concerning the future of Israel and its land are to be interpreted literally and that the Dispensational-Premillennial

view of those prophecies is correct.” – Renald Showers


Our (the Church’s) Mission Now


Glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31) Visible manifestation of Christ’s body (Eph

4:3-6) Edify Christ’s body (Eph. 4:11-13) Evangelize the lost (1 Cor. 11:26) Exhibit God’s wisdom and grace (Eph. 3:9-

11)







The CreedThe CreedI BELIEVE in the CHURCHI BELIEVE in the CHURCH

The Creed

Documents

churchthe birth

holy spirit

feast of harvest

feast of weeks pentecost

holy catholic church

holy ghost

day of pentecost

churchthe suddenness