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Preached:9
th
Ave.Central (Paducah, KY: 2004 Summer Gospel Meeting)LR (title: “Finding the Church of the New Testament”)We Preach Christ’s Church
I.The Church Christ Built is Found in the New Testament
A.
 The
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xistence of the New Testament Church is eternal.1.WAIT A MINUTE! Right here at the outset, let me ask you aquestion: aren’t you the people that are always claiming theChurch was established at the Pentecost recorded in Acts 2?a.Yes.b.BUT, the Church has always been in the very mind of God.c.Ephesians 3:10-11, “So that through the Church the manifoldwisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers andauthorities in the heavenly places. This was according to theeternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord.”2.So, notice that, while the Church did not exist in an establishedstate for all eternity, there was never a time that it was not inthe very mind of God. So, as one preacher puts it often in hislessons, throughout the pages of the Bible, we can see theChurch in:
a.
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urpose (as in the verses we just read)
 b.
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romise (Genesis 22:18, “And in your offspring shall all thenations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyedmy voice.” –It was through Abraham that Christ would cometo bless all nations)
c.
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rophecy (Isaiah 2:2, “It shall come to pass in the latter daysthat the mountain of the house of the Lord shall beestablished as the highest of the mountains, and shall belifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it.”Daniel 2:44, “And in the days of those kings the God of Heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed,nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shallbreak in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end,and it shall stand forever.”)
d.
P
reparation (Matthew 3:3, “For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, ‘The voice of one cryingin the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord; make Hispaths straight’.” Luke 16:16, “The Law and the Prophetswere until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.”)
e.
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erfection (Acts 2, especially verse 47, “And the Lord addedto their number day by day those who were being saved.”)3.So, notice one very important thing this tells us. The church wasnot some after-thought of God’s. He had purposed for there tobe a body of believers from the very start.
B.
 The
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stablishment of the New Testament Church is first century.1.Here is where Acts 2 comes into play.
 
2.While the Church was in the mind of God for all eternity, it wason the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus that theChurch became a reality here on the earth. BUT—how do weknow that Acts 2 is when the Church began?a.The kingdom, or the Church (note that Jesus used theminterchangeably in Matthew 16:18,19) was to come intoexistence when the power came. Mark 9:1, “Truly, I say toyou, there are some standing here who will not taste deathuntil they see the kingdom of God after it has come withpower.”(1)Either this kingdom came soon after these words by Jesus were said,(2)OR, we have some people walking around who makeMethuselah look young!b.This “power” was to come when the Spirit came. Acts 1:8,“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has comeupon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and inall Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”(1)This verse is often used as an outline of the book of Acts.(2)We often focus on the radiating of the Gospel out from Jerusalem (and, by the way, for your own study, Acts 8:1is the beginning of fulfillment of Acts 1:8)(3)However, notice there is another step in that process. Allthis “witnessing” (preaching) would not happen untilAFTER the Holy Spirit came.(a)Again, this just leaves a few possibilities.(b)Either there are some really old people still waiting onthis power,(c)OR, it happened soon after this was said,(d)OR, they were just mistaken that it did happen!c.The Holy Spirit came with power on this first Pentecost afterthe resurrection.(1)Acts 2:1-4, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come,they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenlythere came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mightywind, and it filled the whole house where they weresitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues,as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they wereall filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak withother tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”(2)How much more power do you want!?3.And so, it was on that day that Peter (and others) preached thefirst Gospel sermon. When those heard, believed, and obeyed,they were added to the Church. It was first-century inestablishment.
C.
 The
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xpense of the New Testament Church is Jesus’ blood.1.Christ felt that the Church was so very important that He waswilling to give His very life for it (and, by the way, Philippians 2:5
 
teaches that we are to have the mind of Christ!). Notice 2passages that bear this out:a.Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christalso loved the Church, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR IT.”b.Acts 20:28, (to the elders at Ephesus) “Take heed thereforeunto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the HolySpirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God,WHICH HE PURCHASED WITH HIS OWN BLOOD.”2.Those of you visiting, let me speak to those here who aremembers of the Church for just a few moments, please.a.How important is the Church to you?b.Christ died for it, as these two passages clearly teach.c.How do I show my dedication to her?(1)Do I defend the Church when it is attacked?(2)Do I attend faithfully to remember Christ’s death for her?(3)Do I give so that she might grow?(4)Would I even be willing to die for her?3.The Church is truly valuable, for it is truly a blood-boughtinstitution.
D.
 The
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numeration of the New Testament Church is singular.1.Here is where controversy rages: You Church of Christ people arethe ones who are always talking about there only being onechurch.2.Friend, if you think that, let me say 2 things to you:a.FIRST, thank you for listening and realizing that is part of themessage. And, thank you to those who continue to teachthat.b.SECOND, it is not just “us” who say that—it is the BIBLE thatsays that there is only one! Note the following four thoughtsfrom the New Testament:
(1)
 The Lord promised to
S
et up just one Church.(a)Matthew 16:18,19, “And I also say to you that you arePeter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and thegates of Hades will not prevail against it. And I willgive you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, andwhatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed inheaven.”(b)Let me ask a couple of questions: How many kingdomsare there in that passage? That is never in question!No one would argue that there is more than onekingdom. The Bible clearly teaches however that thekingdom and the Church are the same thing! AND,how many churches are mentioned in that passage? Jesus said “I will build my CHURCH!” There is but onethat Jesus promised to establish.
(2)
 Jesus
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acrificed for just one. We have already mentionedEphesians 5 and Acts 20, both of which tell us that theLord’s blood was shed for just one.
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