Forbidden Titles
No Titles, No Clergy, No Laity
Matthew 23:5-12
ChristAssembly.org Video
Learn more about the forbidden titles. Jesus commanded His disciples to avoid using titles like “rabbi,” “teacher,” and “father.” Watch the video and learn about the problems with many titles used frequently in the local churches today.
CHRIST ALONE OUR LEADER
Why Does Christ Assembly Teach a Plurality of Church Overseers and No Clergy?
If you do not recall a day in your life when you received eternal life as a free gift from Jesus, then this article will not make sense to you. Please click the eternal life button now and learn more about finding peace with God and being born again today.
Eternal Life [1]
God gave the church only one Head, Jesus Christ, that He might have the preeminence in all things (Colossians 1:18). God draws people into the church by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus emphasized that His body has many diverse members, each one essential to the proper function of the whole body (Romans 12:3-5). Jesus never intended the diversity of spiritual gifts to cause divisions or ranks within the Body of Christ, but rather that “all the members may have the same care for one another” (1 Corinthians 12:25), so that the individual members suffer and rejoice together (1 Corinthians 12:26).
Spiritual Unity. God bestowed spiritual gifts upon members of the Body of Christ for the edification and unification of the members, so that they may all be one in Christ, the Head of the Church (1 Corinthians 12:12). Jesus prayed earnestly for this unity, that all believers may be one, even as He is one with His Father (John 17:21). God commands believers to be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). To that end, God has called believers “in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6). As Head of the Church, Jesus Christ personally leads His followers as a Shepherd tends His flock (John 10:10-17). He never intends for His followers to suffer divisions or seek personal glory, but to abstain from following men or dividing themselves into ranks or factions (1 Corinthians 3:1-9). The ministry flows from the spiritual gifts given to all believers, not from offices or officers within the church. Many people forget this essential pattern of New Testament practice.
Avoid Titles. Jesus specifically taught His disciples to avoid titles that exalted one believer above another believer. In Matthew 23:1-12, Jesus told His disciples to call no man “Rabbi,” “Father,” “Teacher,” or “Leader.” Calling any believer a “Teacher” or “Leader” of the church or bible study specifically violates the command of Christ to avoid such titles. He alone is the Teacher and shares that title with no man (Matthew 23:8). Jesus warned His disciples to beware of such respectful greetings in public (Mark 12:38). Religious leaders, such as the scribes and Pharisees, loved the honor and prestige bestowed upon them by the crowds, but Jesus warned His disciples to avoid such self-importance. Some people today love titles like “Reverend” or “Father.” These titles spread division in the body of Christ by separating people into ranks: clergy [2] and laity. Jesus has only one Body and He alone is the Head of that church (1 Corinthians 1:10-17; Ephesians 1:15-23). The Bible teaches that Christ alone should be first in all things, and that all believers should treat one another as brothers and sisters (Matthew 23:8). No one should pretend to be any more important than any other believer (1 Corinthians 12:12-26). In fact, Jesus said that the greatest among believers shall be the servant of believers (Matthew 23:11).
Servant Leaders. Jesus created His body of believers for “good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Among those good works, Jesus emphasized loving service to God and our neighbors (Mark 12:28-34). He also emphasized that every believer has a duty of service to God (Luke 4:8; Colossians 3:24).
Priesthood of All Believers. Every believer stands before God as a priest of God (1 Peter 2:9-10), to perform the services of a priest, offering both himself and all that he possesses as sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1-2). As priests, we exercise God’s spiritual gifts in the humility of daily self-sacrifice (Romans 12:3-8). Pastors and teachers use their gifts to equip believers, so that believers may perform the work of ministry for the building up of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13). Believers, gifted by God, and not “the clergy,” perform the work of ministry. Believers alone comprise one body, which Christ anointed for the work of service to all other believers as His holy priests (1 Peter 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 1:21-24). Great damage has been done to the church through some men and women anointing themselves as leaders in charge of the ministry. Through spiritual gifts, apportioned by God as He deems best and with at least one spiritual gift bestowed upon every believer, the Holy Spirit energizes believers to perform the work of ministry. One man or one woman ministry never formed the pattern for assembly practice. God did, however, provide an organizational structure for the church.
Overseers. God set some elders (“πρεσβυτέρους“) into the Church Office [3] of Overseer. An office in the New Testament referred to a position God created for leadership [4] of the church. Each office required saints to have particular spiritual qualifications and each office served particular needs of the church. The Holy Spirit set male saints into office. God created the Church Office of Overseer to fulfill many different functions. This article only presents a brief overview. In Acts 20:17, Paul called the Ephesian elders of the church (“τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους τῆς ἐκκλησίας“) to gather to him. In Acts 20:28 to hold to (“προσέχετεo”) themselves and all the flock (“τῷ ποιμνίῳ”), among which the Holy Spirit has set (“ἔθετο”) you overseers (“ἐπισκόπους“), in order to shepherd (“ποιμαίνειν“) the church of God. Paul described the qualifications of overseer in Titus 1:5-9 and 1 Timothy 3:1-7. In Philippians 1:1, Paul recognized only two church offices, overseers and deacons. Paul also described The Spiritual Gift of the Leaders in Romans 12:8 and The Spiritual Gift of Shepherds in Ephesians 4:11. The terms elder, overseer, shepherd and leader all have unique meanings and should not be considered interchangeable in any sense. Never confuse spiritual gifts with church the two church offices of overseer and deacon.
Deacons. God also created the church office of deacons [5]. The Holy Spirit in Acts 6:1-6 described “deacons” (“dιακόνους”) as spiritual men, who oversaw the feeding ministry and also preached the Word of God (see Stephen and Philip in Acts 7 and 8). Later, the office of deacon became a part of the church with spiritual qualifications (1 Timothy 3:8-13). As believers, we must obey (“πείθεσθε“) the esteemed once(“ἡγουμένοις“) of the church, and they must act as men who will give an account to God of the souls they watch over with joy (Hebrews 13:17). Therefore, we recognize both overseers and deacons as offices within the church.
BAPTISM
Assembly Practice
ChristAssembly.org
Why Do You Immerse New Believers in Christ?
If you do not recall a day in your life when you received eternal life as a free gift from Jesus, then this article will not make sense to you. Please click the eternal life button now and learn more about finding peace with God and being born again today.
Eternal Life [1]
The Lord Jesus Christ received baptism in the Jordan River and “fulfilled all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15 [6]). Immediately after Jesus rose from the water, the heavens opened and the Spirit of God descended upon Jesus as a dove and lit upon Him. Furthermore, a voice out of heaven said: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:17 [6]). As Jesus concluded His earthly ministry, He spoke to the eleven disciples (Judas had already betrayed Christ) and delivered the Great Commission to them: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19 [7]). Following the example and command of the Lord Jesus Christ, New Testament believers expressed their faith in Jesus Christ and proclaimed their salvation by receiving baptism.
Believer’s Baptism. The New Testament teaches that only believers in Christ underwent baptism (e.g., Acts 2:38 [8],41 [9]; 8:12 [10], 36-38 [11]; 9:18 [12]; 10:47 [13]; 16:14-15 [14], 33 [15]; 18:8 [16]; 19:50 [17]). The early church invited all believers to be baptized (Acts 2:38 [8], 41 [9]) as a public proclamation of their faith in Jesus Christ as personal Savior (Romans 5:8-9 [18]). Baptism in the church occurred after personal salvation and only because of salvation. In other words, infants were not baptized (because they did not have saving faith), but rather new believers of all ages were baptized after they had been born again by faith (Acts 2:41 [9]; Ephesians 2:8-9 [19]; John 3:3 [20]). Believers are baptized because they have been saved from their sins and desire to identify themselves with Christ. The Ethiopian Eunuch listened to Philip preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to him, and then proclaimed his need for baptism (Acts 8:34-39 [21]). Immediately after believing, he received baptism. This pattern characterizes the practice of baptism immediately after salvation in the New Testament.
Identification with Christ. Baptism symbolizes the believer being baptized into the death of Christ and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life to the glory of God (Romans 6:4 [22]). Colossians 2:12 [23] provides a similar view of baptism: “having been buried with Him in baptism in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” In both of these passages, baptism identifies the believer with Christ in two ways. First, each believer submerges in the water which pictures identification with the death and burial of Christ. Each believer has been crucified with Christ so that the old self with its passions and desires has died (Galatians 2:20 [24];5:24 [25]). Second, every believer rises from baptism into the same standing that Christ had before God the Father, “my Beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased,” because we have become the sons of God, and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:14 [26]). Believers also called upon the name of Jesus Christ in baptism (Acts 22:16 [27]).
Cleansing Symbol. While the New Testament never teaches that baptism saves anyone, because only faith in Christ brings salvation (Romans 5:8-9 [18]; Ephesians 2:8-9 [19]), baptism does picture cleansing from sin. In Hebrews 10:22 [28], the believers draw near to God, “having hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Likewise, 1 Corinthians 6:11 [29] pictures believers as “washed,” “sanctified,” and “justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”
Ordinance, Not Sacrament. When a person receives Christ and His forgiveness by faith, Christ enters his life as Lord and Savior. At that moment, the believer has been made complete in Christ and blessed with every blessing in Christ in the heavenly places, even while living on earth (Ephesians 1:3 [30]). The believer does not depend upon anything except direct union with God to bring grace into his life. In contrast, some churches wrongly teach that “sacraments” are a means of God’s grace. Indeed, some churches mislead believers by holding that in the sacraments, the benefits of the new covenant are sealed and applied to believers (Reformed Church, Roman Catholic Church). In contrast, the term “ordinance” conveys the truth that Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are symbols of great events in the life of the church, but never communicate God’s grace in themselves. For example, the Lord Jesus said that the cup of the Lord’s Supper “is the new covenant in My blood.” He meant that we drink the cup in remembrance of Him, not as an infusion of grace or the application of the New Covenant. As believers, we receive the blessings of the New Covenant by faith in Christ alone, so that we are a “letter of Christ,” written with the Spirit of the living God (2 Corinthians 3:2-3 [31]). Therefore, we serve as ministers of the New Covenant (2 Corinthians 3:6 [32]), not because of the Lord’s Supper, but because of our faith in Christ. The New Testament knows nothing of “sacraments,” and never teaches that “sacraments” are a means of grace, or in any way seal or apply the New Covenant to believers. Furthermore, the New Testament teaches that the Holy Spirit communicates all truth directly to believers (John 16:13 [33]; 1 John 2:27 [34]).
Union with the Body of Christ. In baptism, the new believer identifies himself with Christ and with the body of Christ, the church. As individuals become believers in Christ, at the moment of spiritual rebirth, each believer joins the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-14 [35]: the body of Christ has many members, but forms one body). Likewise, believers also become united together as one holy temple of the Lord, and “are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:22 [36]).
Baptism Never Saves. Some people wrongly teach that baptism is essential to salvation and without baptism, you will not go to heaven. Those people even quote verses from the Bible that they claim teach this false doctrine of baptismal regeneration. One example shows the error of baptismal regeneration. Consider the thief on the cross next to Jesus Christ. After that thief made a profession of faith while hanging on the cross, Jesus promised him that he would be with Jesus in paradise the same day. Of course the thief never received baptism, but went to paradise with Jesus (Luke 23:43 [37]).
Every Believer Baptized. If you have not been baptized after you have been born again in Jesus, then let us know and you can be baptized immediately (Acts 8:35-39 [38]).
Silent Submission
Assembly Practice
ChristAssembly.org
If you do not recall a day in your life when you received eternal life as a free gift from Jesus, then this article will not make sense to you. Please click the eternal life button now and learn more about finding peace with God and being born again today.
Eternal Life [1]
Jesus Christ loves every human being, regardless of race, age or gender. He commands everyone to worship God in Spirit and truth (John 4:23). Jesus unites all believers in one body, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:4-6). Because all believers are all one by faith in Christ, God does not rank Jew above Greek, slave above free man, or male above female for the purpose of salvation by faith (Galatians 3:25-28). Through faith in Christ Jesus, we are all sons of God (Galatians 3:26).
The Body of Christ. Within the one body of Christ, the Holy Spirit bestows individual, separate gifts to believers for the purpose of edifying the Body of Christ and glorifying God (1 Corinthians 12). Believers serve God by using their individual gifts to the glory of God (Romans 12). Figuratively speaking, some believers provide eyesight, while others hear, touch, or taste. God provides different blessings through different gifts, but they all work together for the common good. Not only does God bestow the gifts, He also controls the use of the gifts by believers. God calls believers to use their gifts in a variety of contexts, some in the corporate gathering of the Body of Christ and some in individual ministries with small groups, pairs, or individually. God seeks that things be done properly and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40).
Formal Church Services. Christ Assembly offers both small group Bible studies and formal church services. The formal service includes the Breaking of Bread service and morning teaching. God provided commandments for the proper practice of the assemblies of the saints (ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις τῶν ἁγίων) (1 Corinthians 14:33). God desires peace, not confusion, to reign in the Body of Christ when it assembles together, no matter how diverse the activities and powerful the display of gifts. Formal church services are the times when the saints have gathered together (“συνέρχεσθε“) for the purpose of worship and the corporate exercise of spiritual gifts. God provided special commandments to control the use of spiritual gifts during the formal church services. Please recall that Christ Assembly offers many opportunities for women to minister, and all small group Bible studies are times for women to speak freely. The special commandments only apply during the formal church services like Breaking of Bread and the morning teaching.
Women Remain Silent. During the formal services, women must refrain from speaking or exercising authority over men. The Scripture commands their silent participation (1 Corinthians 14:34). This word “silent” (“σιγάτωσαν“) means to refrain from speaking out loud. Chapter 14 of 1 Corinthians provides other examples of the use of this word “silent.” In 1 Corinthians 14:28, the man seeking to speak in tongues must be silent if an interpreter for the tongue is not at hand. In 1 Corinthians 14:30, the word silent means that if someone is speaking, and then another man receives a revelation, the first man speaking must become silent so that the second man can speak. God uses the term “silent” all three times to mean that people do not speak out loud. Just as one man remains silent while another speaks, so also God commands women to be silent during formal church services when males are teaching the Word. God commands believers to give thanks and encourage one another through singing. Women should refrain from all activity in the formal services that amounts to speaking, such as offering testimonies, or announcing a hymn, because those activities involve leading the congregation and exercising authority.
Silent Instruction. In 1 Corinthians 14:35, God encourages women to learn in the formal services of the church, but to do so silently. He instructs them to learn quietly: if women “desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands (“ἄνδρας“) at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.” God commands this practice (1 Corinthians 14:37). Likewise, Paul taught Timothy to apply the same practice in all the churches: “A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness (“ὑποταγῇ“) (1 Timothy 2:11-13). Notice that Paul ties this submission by the woman to creation, not culture.
Creation and Deception. As Paul expounds the reasons why women must receive instruction silently, Paul cites Adam and notes that the man was created first (1 Timothy 2:13). Then Paul explains that the woman Eve was deceived, and fell into transgression, but the man Adam was not deceived (1 Timothy 2:14). Therefore, God commands silent instruction for theological reasons that relate to creation and spiritual discernment. Paul consistently taught that Adam also sinned, but that he was not deceived (Romans 5:12-21).
Submission to Christ. Paul also relates silent instruction to submission to Christ. The pattern of submission in the church services follows the same pattern of Christ being the head of the man, and the man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:3). Christ was not any less God because He submitted to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:28) and Christ always remains the head of the entire church, the one and only Savior of the body (Ephesians 5:23). A woman does not lose her identity by submitting herself to God’s commandment, but finds her essential place in God’s plan for worship. Just like the woman, every man sits in submission to Christ as he attends the worship service. The order of submission allows the gifts to function properly so that peace may reign in the Body of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 11:5, Paul does command women to pray and prophesy with their heads covered, but never said that practice occurred in the formal church services, or that he agreed with any praying and prophesying by women in a formal church service. Paul also cites the Old Testament practice (compare Genesis 3:16–“the husband shall rule over the woman”). A woman adorning herself with a gentle and quiet spirit will be a blessing to her husband as she submits to him and does what is right without any fear (1 Peter 3:4-6). Men depend upon women, and women depend upon men. Both men and women originate from God and all things originate from God (1 Corinthians 11:12). Furthermore, women have a vital role to play in silent submission because they cannot forsake the assembling of themselves, together with men, for the purpose encouraging one another all the more as we see the Day of Christ approaching (Hebrews 10:25). Women participate in singing of spiritual hymns (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16) because we sing as a congregation, without anyone leading the singing. Congregational singing does not involve the exercise of authority over men by leading. Women remain silent during the Breaking of Bread and morning teaching because God has commanded this pattern of submission for men and women.
Why Do Women Wear a Head Covering at Christ Assembly?
If you do not recall a day in your life when you received eternal life as a free gift from Jesus, then this article will not make sense to you. Please click the eternal life button now and learn more about finding peace with God and being born again today.
Eternal Life [1]
Women played important roles in ministering to Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry (e.g., Matthew 27:55-56; Matthew 26:1-13). God described women as fellow heirs of the grace of life (1 Peter 3:7), and notes that all believers stand as one in Christ’s salvation without distinction of Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female (Galatians 3:24). As the church gathers together locally to worship, Christ instituted practices for the assembly to follow so that all things may be done properly and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40). Many churches today ignore the practice of head covering for women because they view the practice of head covering as merely a cultural phenomenon present in the early church, but no longer required. But does Scripture indicate a cultural practice or a command for the church of all ages?
Scripture, Not Culture, Guides Assembly Practice. Believers must be very careful to distinguish the traditions of men from the commandments of God (Mark 7:1-13). The Lord Jesus instituted the practice of the Lord’s Supper. In our assembly practice, we must follow only the commandments of God, and the traditions founded squarely upon the Word of God. In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul reviewed the traditions (“παραδόσεις“) he delivered to the Corinthian church and praised them for holding firmly to those traditions (1 Corinthians 11:2). The New Testament always presents Jesus Christ as the head of the Church (Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18) and so we must follow His teaching (2 John 8-11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The Biblical Doctrine of Head Covering. God explains the need for head covering by turning to spiritual principles and examples. He starts with Christ and ends with the angels to develop the need for every woman to cover her head during the worship services of the church. In all His teaching, He does not rely upon culture or human traditions, but rather upon timeless truths.
The Headship of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul identified Christ as the head of every man, and the man as the head of the woman, and God as the head of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:3). Women should never feel inferior to men, because Christ is not inferior to God, but is Himself God. Christ recognized that He must do the will of God and carry out God’s plan for His life on earth (Hebrews 10:7). Paul built upon this idea of headship by teaching that every man disgraces his head when he prays with his head covered (1 Corinthians 11:4). In contrast, Paul indicated that every woman disgraces her head if she does not cover (“ἀκατακαλύπτῳ“) it while praying or prophesying, “for she is one and the same with the woman whose head is shaved” (1 Corinthians 11:5). If a woman does not cover her head, then she should have her hair cut off, or head shaved. If she wants to keep her hair, then she should cover her head (1 Corinthians 11:6). Paul then explained the reasons for head covering, starting with creation.
The Order in Creation. Men do not cover their heads because they are the image and glory of God; the woman is the glory of man (1 Corinthians 11:7). Paul linked the doctrine of head covering for woman to creation, and not culture. He recalled the beginning: “man does not originate from woman, but woman from man” (1 Corinthians 11:8). God created man first, in His image and for His glory (Genesis 1:26). Furthermore, “man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake” (1 Corinthians 11:9). Paul then drew an important conclusion: “Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head . . . .” The head covering amounts to a symbol showing a woman’s respect for God’s choice to place the woman under the authority of the man, just as the man lives under the authority of Christ, and Christ under the authority of God (compare 1 Corinthians 11:10 with 1 Corinthians 11:3).
The Presence of the Angels. Paul also commanded head covering because of the presence of the angels (1 Corinthians 11:10). God displays His manifold wisdom through the church and its gatherings to the “rulers and authorities in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 3:10; cf. 1 Peter 1:10-13). Apparently, the angels watch over the meeting of saints in the church to worship Christ. Because God has ordained a pattern of submission between men and women, the angels watch for the obedience of the saints. Furthermore, the evil one loves to accuse the brethren for their lack of obedience (Zechariah 3:1; Revelation 12:10). Clearly, this reason for head covering stands apart from any cultural patterns. Believers gathered in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ must remember that many powerful spiritual beings observe their practices and obedience to God’s Word.
Mutual Dependence. As a balance, God emphasizes that in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman (1 Corinthians 11:11). In creation, God fashioned woman from man’s rib (Genesis 2:21), and therefore woman originated from man (1 Corinthians 11:12). Likewise, man originates naturally by birth from the woman (1 Corinthians 11:12). In all these things, God demonstrates from creation forward that men and women depend upon one another and originate from each other. Furthermore, all things originate from God (1 Corinthians 11:12).
No Other Practice. Paul urged the Corinthians to draw upon their common sense and natural practices to judge whether a woman should pray to God with her head uncovered and expects a negative answer (1 Corinthians 11:13). Then, God emphasized that nature also taught that long hair dishonors a man, but it is a glory to the woman and is given to her as a covering (“περιβολαίου“) (1 Corinthians 11:14-15). The “covering” described here is a different Greek word for “covering” in verses five and six (“κατακαλύπτεται“). In light of the explicit teaching of verses five and six, Paul did not excuse a long-haired woman from covering her head. Instead, God teaches by analogy: in the natural world, the woman covers herself with long hair; in the spiritual realm, she covers herself with a proper symbol of authority when she attends the church service. God leaves no room for disagreement: “But if anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God.” (1 Corinthians 11:16).
March 29, 2015 │Separating from Evil │ Separations in Fellowship
March 29, 2015
Separating from Evil and
Separations in Fellowship
If you do not recall a day in your life when you received eternal life as a free gift from Jesus, then this article will not make sense to you. Please click the eternal life button now and learn more about finding peace with God and being born again today.
Eternal Life [1]
Over the course of many years, I have been challenged by the evil behavior within myself and my friends. In so many ways, Jesus provided clear teaching about dealing with evil. He always preached repentance leading to salvation, and for believers, confession of sin to cleanse believers from sin as they walked in the light with Jesus and had fellowship with other believers. Click here for spiritual help. [39]
Application for Today
As you walk through life today, you must consider your own behavior. Are you walking in sin and refusing to repent of your evil behavior? Has someone come to you and confronted you with the Word of God, lovingly showing you that you have disobeyed the teaching of Jesus Christ? Will you repent today? Likewise, do you know someone who has disobeyed the Word of God, but you have continued to fellowship with people who cause dissension, spread false doctrine, or persist in evil behavior? You may need to contact that person walking in darkness and gently, with love, confront them with the Word of God. Furthermore, we should each examine ourselves and judge ourselves before God, so that we will not be disciplined by the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:27-32). As we walk in the light with Jesus, we will still sin, but by fellowship with other believers and fellowship with Jesus Christ, He will cleanse us from all sin as we confess it and trust His cleansing power in our lives. Will you follow His commandments today and so walk in His love?
March 29, 2015 │Separating from Evil │ Separations in Fellowship
Reference
BAPTISM BASICS
Key Concepts for Every Believer Preparing for Baptism
Jesus Commanded Believers To Be Baptized
Matthew 28:19. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” As Jesus concluded His earthly ministry, He spoke to the eleven disciples (Judas Iscariot had already betrayed Christ) and delivered the Great Commission to them. Following the example and command of the Lord Jesus Christ, New Testament believers expressed their faith in Jesus Christ and proclaimed their salvation by receiving baptism. Jesus expected that every believer would be baptized.
Only Believers Should Be Baptized
Acts 2:41. “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.” The New Testament writers taught that only believers in Christ underwent baptism (e.g., Acts 2:38,41; 8:12; 8:36-38; 9:18; 10:47; 16:14-15; 16:33; 18:8; 19:5). The early church invited all believers to be baptized (Acts 2:38, 41) as a public proclamation of their faith in Jesus Christ as personal Savior (Romans 5:8-9). Baptism in the church occurred after personal salvation and only because of salvation. In other words, infants were not baptized (because they did not have saving faith), but rather new believers of all ages were baptized after they had been born again by faith (Acts 2:41; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:3). Believers are baptized because they have been saved from their sins and desire to identify themselves with Christ. The Ethiopian eunuch listened to Philip preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to him, and then proclaimed his need for baptism (Acts 8:34-39). Immediately after believing, he received baptism. This pattern characterizes the practice of baptism immediately after salvation in the New Testament.
Baptism Identifies Believers as Followers of Christ
Romans 6:4. “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” Baptism symbolizes the believer being submerged into the death of Christ and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life to the glory of God (Romans 6:4). Colossians 2:12 provides a similar view of baptism: “having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” In both of these passages, baptism identifies the believer with Christ in two ways. First, each believer submerges in the water which pictures identification with the death and burial of Christ. Each believer has been crucified with Christ so that the old self with its passions and desires has died (Galatians 2:20; 5:24). Second, every believer rises from baptism into the same standing that Christ had before God the Father (who said, “My Beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased,”) because we have become the sons of God, and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). Believers also called upon the name of Jesus Christ in baptism (Acts 22:16).
Symbol of Cleansing
Hebrews 10:22. “Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” While the New Testament never teaches that baptism saves anyone, because only faith in Christ brings salvation (Romans 5:8-9; Ephesians 2:8-9), baptism does symbolize cleansing from sin. In Hebrews 10:22, the believers draw near to God, “having hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Likewise, 1 Corinthians 6:11 describes believers as “washed,” “sanctified,” and “justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”
Symbol of Union with the Body of Christ, The Church
1 Corinthians 12:13. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” In baptism, the new believer identifies himself with Christ and with the Body of Christ, the Church. As individuals become believers in Christ, at the moment of spiritual rebirth, each believer joins the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-14: the body of Christ has many members, but forms one body). Likewise, believers also become united together as one holy temple of the Lord, and “are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22).
Baptism Never Saves Anyone and Baptism Is Not Required for Salvation
Luke 23:43. “And He said to him, ‘Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.'” Some people wrongly teach that baptism is essential to salvation and without baptism, you will not go to heaven. Those people even quote verses from the Bible that they claim teach this false doctrine of baptismal regeneration. One example shows the error of baptismal regeneration. Consider the thief on the cross next to Jesus Christ. After that thief made a profession of faith while hanging on the cross, Jesus promised him that he would be with Jesus in paradise the same day. Of course the thief never received baptism, but went to paradise with Jesus (Luke 23:43). Also, consider Acts 10:44-48. In this passage, Gentiles believed in the name of Jesus Christ, and they received forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43). The Holy Spirit then fell upon those believers, and the new believers began speaking in known tongues, exalting God (Acts 10:46). Notice that these believers received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues before they were baptized. Therefore, because the people had received the Holy Spirit and were already speaking in tongues, we know from the text that they were already saved. Only believers have the Holy Spirit poured out upon them. Only believers speak in known tongues, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, exalting God. Notice, they were saved before they were baptized in this passage. Therefore, salvation came before baptism. The people were not baptized until Acts 10:48. So, no one can argue that you must be baptized to be saved, because the thief on the cross was saved, but never baptized, and the believers in Acts 10:44-48 were saved and then baptized.
Every Believer Baptized
Acts 8:36. “As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?'” Philip met a Ethiopian eunuch on a deserted road, and shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with that eunuch. Immediately the eunuch believed and exclaimed that they had come upon water and he wanted to be baptized immediately. Only believers receive baptism in the New Testament. Infants lack the capacity to believe the Gospel, and so infant baptism does nothing for the infant. If you have not been baptized after you have been born again in Jesus, then let us know and you can be baptized immediately (Acts 8:35-39).
Baptism Is An Ordinance, Not A Sacrament
Ephesians 1:3. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” When a person receives Christ and His forgiveness by faith alone, Christ enters his life as Lord and Savior. At that moment, the believer has been made complete in Christ and blessed with every blessing in Christ in the heavenly places, even while living on earth (Ephesians 1:3). The believer does not depend upon anything except direct union with God to bring grace into his life. In contrast, some churches wrongly teach that “sacraments” are a means of God’s grace. Indeed, some groups mislead believers by holding that in the “sacraments,” the benefits of the new covenant are sealed and applied to believers (Reformed Church, Roman Catholic Cult). Therefore, because the Bible informs us that God’s grace comes by faith alone and opposes the misleading term “sacrament,” we oppose the use of the term “sacrament.”
In contrast, the term “ordinance” conveys the truth that Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are symbols of great events in the life of the church, but never communicate God’s grace in themselves. For example, the Lord Jesus said that the cup of the Lord’s Supper “is the new covenant in My blood.” He meant that we drink the cup in remembrance of Him, not as an infusion of grace or the application of the New Covenant.
As believers, we receive the blessings of the New Covenant by faith in Christ alone, so that we are a “letter of Christ,” written with the Spirit of the living God (2 Corinthians 3:2-3). Therefore, we serve as ministers of the New Covenant (2 Corinthians 3:6), not because of the Lord’s Supper, but because of our faith in Christ. The New Testament knows nothing of “sacraments,” and never teaches that “sacraments” are a means of grace, or in any way seal or apply the New Covenant to believers. Furthermore, the New Testament teaches that the Holy Spirit communicates all truth directly to believers (John 16:13; 1 John 2:27).
For Printable PDF, Click Here [40]
Bert Allen
Christ Assembly
friend@christassembly.org [41]
321.508.7540
Breaking of Bread
Why Does Christ Assembly Have a
Breaking of Bread Service Every Week?
If you do not recall a day in your life when you received eternal life as a free gift from Jesus, then this article will not make sense to you. Please click the eternal life button now and learn more about finding peace with God and being born again today.
Eternal Life [42]
Breaking of Bread, also called the Lord’s Supper, refers to a special worship service instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ. This ordinance of Christ does not impart a special form of grace, but it does unite every believer in worship and remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ until He returns.
Inauguration. The night Jesus was arrested, He brought His disciples together in the upper room for a last meal with them before He went to the cross. While the disciples were eating with Him, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it, and gave it to His disciples, and said, “Take it; this is My body” (Mark 14:22). The bread symbolizes the body of Christ. In the divine plan, God prepared a body of real flesh for Jesus (1 John 4:2). Before the foundation of the world, Jesus eternally existed as a person dwelling with the Father and Holy Spirit, united as one God (John 1:1; Colossians 1:19; John 10:30). In the fullness of time, God prepared a perfect, sinless body for Christ, being conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (Galatians 4:4; Matthew 1:20). Therefore, Jesus offered His body as a holy, living sacrifice to bear the sins of the world and sanctify a people for God (Hebrews 10:5). He did not die for His own sins, because He had no sin, but for my sins and your sins, the Just for the unjust (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 3:18). Jesus offered the sacrifice just once, and for all people and times. He was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Jesus also took the cup and used it as a symbol of several truths. The cup reminds us of the past, present and future.
The cup pictures the past because Jesus wants us to remember Him. It focuses our attention exclusively upon Him as the object of worship during the Breaking of Bread service: “. . . do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). As we look back, we see our Savior. We remember the work of Christ, in paying the wages of sin (Romans 6:23), propitiating the anger of God at the sin of the world (1 John 2:2), opening a new and living way to draw near to God (Hebrews 10:20), and demonstrating the love of God for us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8). For the joy set before Him, Christ endured the cross and despised the shame (Hebrews 12:2). He stands now as the Author and Perfecter of our faith as we fix our eyes upon Him, particularly in the elements of the Lord’s Supper.
Jesus also linked the cup to our present blessings in Him. In the cup, we have the “blood of the covenant.” He explained that the covenant included pouring out His blood for many so that their sins would be forgiven (Matthew 26:28). Without the shedding of blood, God cannot forgive sin (Hebrews 9:22). Jesus described a “new covenant” in His blood (1 Corinthians 11:25). The word “covenant” means an agreement between two people, and only comes into effect when the maker of the covenant dies. Therefore, Jesus died to bring about the redemption of sin, a crucial feature of this new covenant we have with God (Hebrews 9:15-18). When Jesus lifted that cup, and called it the new covenant in His blood, He intended for each of us to remember, as often as we drink it, that He alone is the author of that new covenant, and He alone offers redemption from sin. In Him we live victoriously, and drink together as people joined to Him under the “new covenant” of eternal blessings and forgiveness. God writes upon the tablets of our hearts with the Spirit of the living God, so that we have become ministers of the new covenant who have received life from the Spirit of God (2 Corinthians 3:1-6). At the Lord’s table, we see the Maker of that covenant in the wine we drink together.
The bread and the cup also allow us to proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes again (1 Corinthians 11:26). Only Jesus can so beautifully tie together the concept of death taking away sin to the eternal life He provides as a gift to every believer. Jesus said He would not “drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of heaven comes” (Luke 22:17-18). Jesus never leaves the bitter taste of death lingering in the elements, but always adds the aroma of glory to come. Jesus lives and we proclaim His life every week as we partake of the Lord’s Supper. When His kingdom comes, then the living Christ will drink the cup with His disciples (Matthew 26:29). From that first Lord’s Supper, the church of Jesus Christ has followed His command to partake together.
Early Church Practice. Shortly after Jesus ascended, the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles at Pentecost. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, preached to Jerusalem and three thousand souls were added to the church in one day. Those Jerusalem believers began to meet “day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house . . . .” (Acts 2:46). There, the early Christians were breaking bread daily, moving from house to house and also eating together with gladness and sincerity of heart (Acts 2:46). The number of men came to be about five thousand (Acts 4:4) and the Lord added to that number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:47). They were baptized and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer (Acts 2:42). They were feeling a sense of awe. (Acts 2:43). Later in Acts, Paul met with believers at Troas on the first day of the week to break bread and for the preaching of God’s word (Acts 20:7). We may glean from these passages that breaking of bread occurred as often as every day and also on the first day of the week. Therefore, the New Testament church had a variety of times it observed the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper. At Christ Assembly, we celebrate the Lord’s Supper every Sunday based upon the verses above, but recognize that Scripture does not set a mandatory frequency for the ordinance. It does, however, provide very specific guidelines for observing the ordinance.
Examine Yourself. In Corinth, the believers had problems with the Breaking of Bread. Paul said they were divided and factions existed among them. Some of them were drunk and others were hungry (1 Corinthians 11:17-20). He instructed them to return to the original practice for the Breaking of Bread which he received from the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul warned that some of the believers were sick and others slept because they had partaken of the Lord’s Supper while they were divided, drunk and shaming other believers (1 Corinthians 11:30). He urged each believer to examine his own heart and so avoid partaking of the elements of the Lord’s Supper unworthily (1 Corinthians 11:28). This self-examination should include looking into your own heart to be sure that you are in fellowship with the other believers (1 Corinthians 11:28). Furthermore, if you know that someone else has a problem with you, then you would do well to seek reconciliation with that other person before you partake of the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 5:23-24). The Bible emphasizes that you must seek out the brother or sister who has something against you. Do not disrupt the service by doing it during the service, but rather go to them before you worship, in private, and seek reconciliation. The way to cure divisions in the Body of Christ is for members to reconcile with each other. Finally, be sure to confess your sin to God and know that He will forgive you, and cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). To partake unworthily means that you “will be disciplined by the Lord so that you will not be condemned along with the world” (1 Corinthians 11:31-32; Romans 8:1).
Elders. The elders of the church must shepherd the flock of God and exercise oversight according to the will of God (1 Peter 5:2). As the elders exercise their oversight function, believers should submit to them, for they keep watch over the souls of believers as men who will give an account (Hebrews 13:17). If the elders know that a person will be eating and drinking the elements of the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner, they must be careful to stop that practice. In some instances, the person under discipline for unrepentant sin will be excluded from partaking of the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 18:15-20). The emphasis is always upon restoration of the fallen believer, and never a punitive measure aimed at a believer, for every believer stands holy and blameless before the Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:22).
Holy Spirit Service. The Holy Spirit alone should lead the Breaking of Bread service and only believers may partake of the elements. We unite to remember the Lord Jesus Christ, and to praise and worship Him. This service uniquely focuses upon Jesus Christ alone. The males (1 Timothy 2:12-14; 1 Corinthians 14:34; see Assembly Practice—Silent Submission) choose hymns and read Scriptures that focus upon Jesus, because we are to remember Him. The women must cover their heads (1 Corinthians 11:3-16; Genesis 3:16; 2:18; see Assembly Practice—Head Covering) and participate silently. Never let silence by males or females be mistaken for inactivity—we should pray and worship even as we wait for the Holy Spirit to lead us. As the Holy Spirit fills everyone, the men lead with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Everyone sings, making melody with our hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God our Father (Ephesians 5:18-20). Everything must be done properly and in order during this time structured only by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:40). Every speaker should be careful to limit his remarks so that others will have ample opportunity to participate. We avoid petitions and prayer requests during this time, because we do not want to focus upon ourselves, but rather devote this time to the praise and worship of Jesus Christ alone. We also partake of the elements together. When a brother feels led, he will pray for the bread and give thanks to God. Then each of us will partake together. Likewise, another brother will pray for the cup and we will drink it together. Usually, we conclude with a song (Matthew 26:30).