Are we saved because we are in the the church, OR are we saved because we are the church

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Are we saved because we are in the the church,
ORare we saved because we are the church?

• Biblestudy for the Eindhoven church of Christ
• 30 september 2007

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God's people

• Worship God
• in congregationAND
• Individual
• Not only in church assembly
• Not only individual

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God's people

• They that are acceptable to God, who abtained
  mercy
• They who obeyed the gospel from the heart (2 Thes
  214)?
• The unadulterated gospel (Acts 237-47)?
• Those acceptable ARE the church, those who are
  not the Lord's church are not His people

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Church of Christ?

• Exists of people
• Who came out of the darkness into God's marvelous
  light (1 Pet 29)?
• who are saints and faithful brethren (Col 12)?
• devoted and loyal to Christ
• who are for God's own possesion (1 Pet 29)?
• Purchased by the blood of Christ
• who are bought with a price to glorify God in
  their bodies (1 Kor 620)?

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1. The universal church the relationship of
saints with God

• The Lord adds members (Acts 247)?
• those who gladly receive His Word
• Enter by baptism (1 Cor 1213)?
• Baptized by one Spirit into one body
• All have put on Christ (Gal 327)?
• Like Christ is we are
• Only the saved are members (2 Tim 219)?
• Those who abstain from wickedness

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1. The universal church the relationship of
saints with God

• Only one Leader (Matt 238-10)?
• All are brothers and fellow servants
• Assembles figuratively (Hebr 1222-23)?
• Citizens of the kingdom in heaven
• Satan cannot prevail against it (Matt 1618)?

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2. The local church the relationship of saints
with saints

• Earthly, limited (Phil 11)?
• Saints who are in one location (1 Cor 12)?
• Those who associate with a group of christians
  (Acts 926)?
• Saul wanted to join them (choice)?
• Some not of us (1 Jn 219)?
• They didn't remain with the church
• Some say they were christians, but left
• Some say they were never christians
• The bible teaches that both is possible

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2. The local church the relationship of saints
with saints

• Assembles literally (1 Cor 1423)?
• Not to be forsaken, (Hebr 1025)?
• to encourage one another to love and good deeds
• Satan can prevail against it (Rev 25)?
• Forsaken first love
• Compare with enthusiasm of new converts
• Become unproductive
• Shepherds of the flock among them (1 Pet 52)?
• According to the will of God as examples

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Everyone is important, yes you also

• inter action
• supporting each other
• dependent upon each other
• concerned for each other
• compassion and empathy for each other

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When one does not not function as should

• becomes a burden on the whole body
• it drags the whole body down
• it reduces its effectiveness
• an emptiness

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God's people sin

• Members do sin
• God expects repentence and prayer for forgiveness
  (Acts 822)?
• When individuals fail to repent
• Denied fellowship with christians (1 Cor 5)?
• Here the church fellowshipped with one living in
  sin which was wrong. Men maintained fellowship
  with eachother which God refused
• There is no fellowship with God for those who
  walk in darkness error and sin (1 Joh 15-9)

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God's people sin

• When man forbids fellowship with christians (3 Jn
  10)?
• Diotephres denied the church fellowship with
  fellow christians
• God maintained fellowship which man forbid
• When congregation fails to repent
• The Lord wars against them with the Sword of His
  mouth (Rev 214-16) - Pergamum
• Man, nor local churches have the right to approve
  what God disproves, but it happens!

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The church

• But if I tarry long, (I write) that you may know
  how you ought to behave yourself in the house of
  God, which is the church of the living God, the
  pillar and ground of the Truth 1 Tim 315
• pillar a column which supports the building
• ground firm foundationGod's church exists of
  people identified with truth not just people
  who wear the name
• Loyalty is to God and not to the church of Christ
  as a group of churches

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God's truth never changes

• The truth of the New Testament never changes (1
  Pet 123,25)?
• People can and will fall away (1 Tim 41)?
• The attitude toward divine authority changes
• Then their practices
• They desire to please God in their own ways
• While the wise loose their own way and seek God's
  standard
• Compare with 2 Cor 1012-18
• Christians are not to stay with the building, nor
  with the preacher, nor with the elders if that
  means leaving the church which God established!

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Christians

• They are likened unto a temple, in which God
  dwells
• Their foundation is Jesus Christ, and the walls
  are of lively stones - faithful christians (1 Pet
  24-5)?
• They are citizens of the Kingdom of heaven, of
  which Christ is the King (Col 113),
• They are a body of members and Christ is the Head
  (Eph 122-23)?

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Conclusion

• You also, as living stones, are being built up
  as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to
  offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God
  through Jesus Christ 1 Pet 25
• A stone has no life within itself,
• neither do we if we are not alive through Jesus
  Christ
• If you were baptized into Christ then you are
  made alive in Him and you are a lively stone in
  the church of Christ!
• If you are a faithful member then you are still
  walking in the newness of life!