Knowing Christianity

Many people mistakenly think of the Church as an organization. This understanding of the Church is mistaken because it is inconsistent with what Scripture says about the Church. Rather than an organization, the New Testament clearly teaches that the Church is a living organism of which Christ is the Head giving direction to believer’s who are His Body . Yet as a living organism, all local congregations or assemblies must be governed. Three types of church government emerged: (1) Episcopal. Under this type of government, bishops govern local congregations; typically one bishop will govern a group of congregations. The simplest form of this type of church government can be found in the Methodist church while the more complex form can be found in the Roman Catholic Church. This type of church government is not seen in the first century, it originated in the second century. Proponents point to James, Timothy, and Titus for biblical support. (2) Presbyterian. In this form of gove...

There are a number of passages in the New Testament that teach about the who and the why of local church leadership. The New Testament speaks of only two leadership offices for local New Testament churches, one of which has a couple of designations. Elders In the New Testament we find that the office of the elder is identified by two basic terms: (1) elder (presbyter, GR presbuteros), as a church leader (Acts 14:23 ; 15:2, 2, 4) and, (2) overseer (bishop, GR episkopos), one who “watches over .” When it comes to the office of “Elder,” the term presbuteros stresses its dignity and the term episkopos its work. An important point to make is that the terms “elder” and “overseer” are used interchangeably in the New Testament, clearly indicating that both terms refer to the same office (cf. Acts 20:17, 28 and Titus 1:5, 7). There are many passages of which only a few will be listed here, that teach us what the duties and responsibilities of an elder are (Acts 11:30; 15:2-6; 20:2...

The word translated church in the New Testament ( ekklesia ), means a “called out group” or “assembly.” It is most frequently used of those who are believers in Jesus Christ. In this sense, it is used in three ways: (1) Of all who have, do, and will believe in Christ during the Church age, the time between Pentecost and the Rapture. This is the Body of Christ. (2) Its also used of believers who lived during a particular time during the Church age, and (3) of believers in a particular locality during the Church age.  A question often asked by individuals is, when did the church begin? While there are some who have suggested that the church existed in the Old Testament, the New Testament evidence clearly points to the contrary. In Matthew 16:18 Jesus stated, “I will build my church,” clearly pointing to a yet future event. His statement clearly indicated that the Church was not in existence when He made that statement. We also find Jesus stating in Acts 1:...

As with salvation, the eternal security of a believer does not rest on the individual but rather it is entirely a work of God. Just like we cannot save ourselves or even contribute to our own salvation, neither can we do anything in and of ourselves to stay saved. It is God who saves us and keeps us. Eternal security is a work of all three Persons in the Godhead. The Father’s work can be seen in passages like John 10:28-29; Eph. 1:4-5; Rom. 5:7-10; 8:28 -30; Jude 24. The work of the Son can be seen in passages like John 6:39-40; 17:24 ; Rom. 8:33 -34; Heb. 7:25 1 John 2:1. The work of the Spirit can be seen in passages like John 14:17; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:30; Titus 3:5.