Individuals and the Church - 11/16/08pm

Revelation 3:1-6 -Separation of “church” and “certain people”

There exists a great deal of confusion, even among brethren, of the differences between an individual Christian, the local church, and the universal church. To some, there is no distinction whatsoever. And if one person does something, then the church has done so. The result has been to allow more and more things into the church that have no place in it. Let us consider what the Bible says!

What organization?
Let us take a few minutes to look at the difference in the local and universal church, and the place of the individual in both.

The organization of the local church is simple:
Christ is the head
Ephesians 1:19-23 -Christ is the head of the church
Local congregations are to strive for elders and deacons
Titus 1:5-9 -Titus to appoint elders in every church
I Peter 5:1-4 -Elders to shepherd, not lord over the flock
I Timothy 3:8-13 -Deacon qualifications
Acts 6:1-4 -The first “deacons”
The universal church is even more simple
Christ is the head
Colossians 1:13-18 -Christ is the head of the church
The universal church is not made up of local congregations, but of saved believers.
Acts 2:47 -The saved are added to the church

The role of one is not always the role of another
In discipline
Matthew 18:15-17 -From individual to the church
In benevolence
James 1:19-27 -Pure and undefiled religion (individual)
If “visiting” requires building and supplying, then “visiting” those in prison (Matthew 25:36, 39) requires building and supplying
II Corinthians 9:10-15 -Supplying the needs of the saints (church)
Galatians 6:1-10 -Do good to all men (individual)
I Timothy 5:3-16 -Care for widows: individual vs. church
If there’s no separation between individual and church, than when the individual cares for a widow, the church is caring for a widow, which was supposed to be the work of an individual…

In socializing/recreation and “fellowship”
Acts 2:42-47 -Assembling at temple, eating house to house

Salvation is retail, not wholesale
Salvation is based on the individual, not as an organization. Simply meeting as a member of a church of Christ is not sufficient for salvation. We will each be judged on our own, and not as a group. Individuals will be saved.
Ezekiel 18:20-23 -The soul who sins will die, the righteous will not
Ecclesiastes 11:9, 12:13-14 -All actions will be judged
I Peter 1:15-17 -Got judges, not showing favoritism
Revelation 20:11-15 -Judgment according to actions