The Local New Testament Church 

By: Dr. Tony Smart

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Matthew 16: 18.

  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ  himself being the chief corner stone;

Ephesians 2:20.

What is a New Testament church? 

The term ‘church’ in Matthew 16:18 is translated from the Greek word ‘ekklesia’, which is derived from two words that mean to ‘call out of ’. The New Testament church was started by the Lord Jesus Christ during His Judean ministry, and it continues in existence today. This is an institution that has a human as well as a divine nature, an earthly beginning, but a heavenly destination. The church was not meant to be a political organization, though from its inception it exerted influence upon rulers and their governments. Neither was it meant to be a mere social enterprise, though it has affected social standards wherever it has taken root. The church was created to be a redeemed group of people through whom God could express His love for all mankind, and save them from eternal destruction by means of the message of the Gospel of Christ. When that Divine message is believed, it saves the souls of sinful people everywhere, and enables them to be transformed into godly people. God ordained that this worldwide effort be carried out through autonomous local churches that would remain faithful to the Word of God until Jesus returns for the church. 

Who is in the New Testament Church?

Go ye Therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Matthew 28:19.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:16.

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.  
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Ephesians 2:13-14.

The first converts to Christianity were Jews. Those descendants of Abraham, the father of the Hebrews, were used by God to evangelize the Gentile nations out of which Abraham was called. In its early history, the church increased in numbers in the city of Jerusalem, it met at the temple, and from house to house (Acts 2:46). Later it spread to other parts of Israel and into Gentile (non-Jew) territories. The evangelist Philip shared the Gospel with an Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-39). Later, Simon Peter evangelized the household of the Roman centurion Cornelius.

The local church that was established at Antioch in Syria was known for its multi-ethnic leadership (Acts 13:1-3). Anyone who trusts Jesus Christ for personal salvation is accepted by God and should attend and support a local church. 

What Programs and Ministries should be present in a local New Testament church?

1. Their beliefs and practices should be consistent with sound New Testament doctrine.

2.  

The written Word of God should taught by the Pastor, and held in high honor by all.

3.  

There must be mutual love and concern present among the members.

4.  

A genuine concern for lost souls that results in a soul-winning program.

5.  

Prayer.

6.  

Ordinances of Baptism and Lord’s Supper must be practiced.

7.  

Missionary outreach.

8.  

Children and Youth ministries.

9.  

Praises offered to God in music.

10.  

Relief of the poor.

 Why should local churches be autonomous?

During the 1^st century AD, the apostles and their ministers had established local churches in several cities throughout the Middle East, Asia Minor, and Southern Europe. Among the places that were blessed with a New Testament church were:

Jerusalem, Judea, Galilee, (Israel) Antioch (Syria), Achaia, Berea, Crete, Corinth, Thesalonica, Macedonia, Philippi (Greece). Ephesus, Colosse, Galatia, Crete, Smyrna, Pergamos, Philadelphia, Laodicea, Sardis, Thyatira (Asia Minor), and Rome. These were all independent churches that did not answer to a central church government. In the 4^th century, the Roman popes began their quest to dictate the religious beliefs of all people.

Baptists, however, have always believed the church should be free from any state control or outside religious hierarchy. The apostles of the Lord ordained elders (pastors) and appointed them to lead a local flock to fulfill Christ’s commission of reaching the world with the Gospel. 

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

Titus 1:5

The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

Feed the flock of God which is among you . . .         1Peter 5:1-2.

God is concerned that the local churches be supervised by godly men that would lead the people under them to love and obey God. There was never a need for a central church government to dictate policy or practice to the local congregations. The written Word of God and the Spirit of God would be sufficient to guide them, and keep them from falling into error.

Will the local New Testament church age ever end?

Saul of Tarsus acknowledged intense hatred for Christians before his conversion {1 Timothy 1:13-16}. The Roman emperors, Nero, Domitian, Dioclesian, and Maximian directed great persecutions against the young Christian church. Their objective was to eradicate the witness for Jesus Christ. His power working through the church was making their idol worship look awfully foolish. So intense was Nero’s persecution of the church that the believers thought he was the Antichrist. By God’s providence, no tyrant has been able to permanently silence the church. The church has a human side that may be destroyed in the fire, or by the sword, but it also possesses Divine power that will keep its witness alive on the earth until God is ready to remove it.

Much frivolous date setting has taken place in man’s proud attempt to predict the actual date when the church will be caught up to meet the Lord Jesus in the air. The event commonly referred to as the rapture of the church. While I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, I also know that the Bible promises persecution for the godly remnant up until the time of the up calling of the true church. (John 16:33, Acts 14:22, 2 Timothy 3:12).

This last days persecution may be in the form of a false church practicing a fake Christianity attempting to usurp the position of the legitimate church, oppression from civil authorities, or persecution from non-Christian religious groups. 

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 

That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4.

The church age will conclude when:

1.  

There is a widespread defection from the Biblical faith in the professing church.

2.  

The body of believers in Christ is complete.

3.  

God is ready to turn men over to global satanic deception.

On the day the church receives its call to meet the Lord in the air in changed, and glorified bodies, the church age will come to an end, and an age of judgment will begin.

(Only regenerated souls will be caught up to be with Jesus, those who did not receive His Spirit will be left to face unprecedented judgment. Religious meetings of all sorts will continue after the blood bought church of Jesus leaves, but only those that put their faith in the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world will find themselves in glory in the bodily presence of the Son of God. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).