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The Local Church.                                                                                                        (Church means an assembly of God’s people, not a place of worship)

Prophetically – The Lord reveals in Matthew 18:17and 20 that there will be gathering of God’s people, called the church. (The person, who had sinned, was to be dealt with by the church and not the Jewish synagogue, which existed in that day.)

Historically – The book of Acts, presents the establishment of New Testament churches.

Doctrinally – The Epistles, present truths relevant to the order that belongs to a local church. 

 

Prophetically – Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” This verse gives us the basic truths of a local church described in verse 17 of this chapter.             

                                       

Different localities – “For where”. For example we have 7 different churches mentioned in Revelation from different places. 

Congregational not individual – “two or three”                                                                                               Established gatherings – “are gathered”. This is not where some Christians meet at any given time. The thought is where Christians are gathered in a continuing practice. Thus we have the church at Jerusalem and other places.                                            

Fellowship – “together”                                                                                                                                         Divine authority – “in my name” For example, when the church at Corinth was instructed to deal with sin, they were to do this in the authority of his name. 1 Corinthians 5:4 “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” (acknowledging and bowing to the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ’)                             Divine presence – “there am I” This is a promise given for all local churches if they submit to his authority.                                                           

Divine pre-eminence – “in the midst of them”. The Lord must always have the central position.             

 Historically.   

The first church was at Jerusalem, comprising of Jews only.

This came in to being on the Day of Pentecost, in Acts2.                                                                                                                  

After this in chapter 8, we find Phillip preaches to the Samaritans and many are saved.                      In Acts 8:1, the church at Jerusalem was scattered by persecution throughout Judaea and Samaria.

 

Churches where then established in Judaea, Galilee and Samaria, comprising of Jews and Samaratans. Act 9:31  “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria,”

After this the Jews are shown and taught by God, that Gentiles were to be included, in the kingdom of God.. Acts 10 and 11.

 

Churches are then established throughout the Roman empire, comprising of Jew, Samaritans and Gentiles. This is largely  the result of the Apostle Paul’s missionary journeys. The historical account of the establishment of local churches, finishes in Acts 28.                                                                                                                                                                      

 

Doctrinally.    Perhaps the main epistle that deals with Local church truth is 1 Corinthians. This was written to a young church, which was the result of the missionary journeys of Paul. Many truths are found in this letter, but let us consider two great principles found in chapter 1.

 

Number One. Authority.

1Corinthians 1:2  “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:” This is not praying to, but placing ourselves under his authority.  That means every local church, must bow to the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, and no one else, if he is our Lord. The bible teaches that we are not under the control of any Christian organization or group of central leadership. Each local church is accountable to the Lord Jesus Christ. This letter was written, so that the Corinthians themselves, could correct the problems in the church and not some external authority. Paul must write this letter by the Spirit of God, because the bible as we have it now, was not yet complete.  

 

Number Two. Name taking.

A condemnation of taking names. 1Corinthians 1:12 “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.” 1:13 “Is Christ divided?”. We have here the beginnings of what we call denominations. From internal divisions within a local church, to external divisions among groups of christians.

A term to describe ourselves, might simply be christians/believers gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We gather this from Matthew 18:20 and 1Corinthians 1:2. Example of this truth - 1Corinthians 5:4 “ In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together,”