Ecclesiology - A Study of the Church (4)

Essential Qualities of a Church

1. Christ is the head of the church.
   1. Paul is speaking of the church in the institutional sense.  He is not referring to a universal body that is invisible and composed of all the saved.
   2. “If in Ephesians 5:25 the term church means a universal church, we will necessarily have to conclude that the term husband means a universal husband and the term wife means a universal wife.” (Cobb, 3)
   3. The local church should voluntarily submit to the Lordship of her founder and head Jesus Christ.
   4. “The only church which the New Testament knows is a local, visible body of believers.  All such churches are sometimes spoken of in an institutional sense.  When Christ comes, all true churches will be received by Him then there will be but one, but even then it will not be composed of all the redeemed.” (Cobb, 7-8)
   5. “God’s children who, in the gospel age, are misinformed and misguided and do not unite with a true church will not be, in some mysterious way, inducted into her membership in the coming age.  They will suffer loss.  God, in His divine Word of truth, has revealed the true way and the true church; but if one allows prejudice, misinformation, or misguidance to keep him out of the true church, God, is not responsible.  He will hold the individual responsible for his gullibility.” (Cobb, 3) 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.                   
2. The local church has a spiritual work to perform. Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. “The individual members of a church, having been redeemed, should dedicate their lives to the spiritual service of God.” (Cobb, 8) The local church must be careful in the activities she engages in so that she does not compromise her spiritual work.
3. The church is to be separate from the world. John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
   1. The doctrines of the church are based on God’s instruction in His Word and not on philosophies of men.
   2. The local church as well as the individual members is to be separate from the world in life and conversation. 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion  hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God;  as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
   3. The church is to be the light of the world. Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
   4. The church is to be separate from the state.  John 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
4. The church is a preserving agent in the world.  The world would have been destroyed long ago had it not been for the influence of the church.  Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  Salt will give one a scriptural standard and it will give the people a thirst for the Water of Life.
5. Christ gave the church the quality of perpetuation.  “By the term perpetuity is not meant that an individual, local church is perpetuated unto the consummation of the ages, but the church, as an institution, is perpetuated eternally.” (Cobb, 11-12)  Ephesians 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.
6. Christ gave the church the quality of reproduction. “When Christ instituted the church, He gave her the quality of reproduction.  Jesus does not personally institute each true church any more than God directly creates each individual human.  When God created man, He gave him the ability for reproduction.  By that quality man has been perpetuated upon the earth.  When Christ instituted the first church, He gave her the power, ability, or quality of reproduction.  Churches have existed ever since.  They will continue to exist.  When Christ comes, again, He will find the same church He left upon the earth-not the same individual members, but the same church.” (Cobb, 12-13)
7. The quality of peculiarity distinguishes the church of Jesus Christ. The following peculiar marks distinguish the Lord’s church from all others. “(1) A lineage from the church instituted by Christ during His personal ministry. (2) A regenerated membership. (3) The practice of absolute equality in the membership. (4) An acceptance of the New Testament as the only and all-sufficient rule of faith and practice. (5) A biblical order of the New Testament commandments: (a) repentance, (b) faith, (c) baptism, (d) the Lord’s Supper. (6) An experience of being persecuted, but never persecuting others.” (Cobb, 13)
8. The Lord commanded His church to be faithful.  “It is a matter of prophecy that in the last days some churches will become unfaithful to their Lord and Master.
9. The church has the quality of independence or autonomy. 
   1. The church of Jesus Christ is self-governing.  “No association, convention, conference, or synod can dominate a scriptural church.  The authority of the church is not vested in a bishop, pope, or presbyter; the authority is inherent in the church itself.” (Cobb, 14)
   2. “The Lord gave the church the right to judge.  She judges her members.  She does that (1) as to the qualification for membership and (2) as to the conduct of members.  She has the right to judge her officials as to their qualifications and service. (Cobb, 15)
   3. “The commission to evangelize the world was given to the church.  Jesus commanded His church as an institution to go into all the world, to make disciples to all nations, to baptize the disciples, and then to teach them to observe all things whatsoever He had commanded.” (Cobb, 16)
   4. Some argue that the commission was given to the local church as such.  By the same reasoning, we can prove that we are not under the commission any longer, for all the members of the church at Jerusalem to which the Lord spoke the words of the commission are dead; that church-that local body-is not in existence.” (Cobb, 17)