The Responsibility Of The Church Locally & Universally

Brief History of the Early Christian Church

The Church are all those who have come to know Jesus Christ personally, and have received Him as their Lord and Savior The word Church means "those who are called out of." (Vines Expository of the New Testament Words). These are those people who have received the message of the cross and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ personally, and have become Christians. The message of the Gospel is for all people to receive, jus as Jesus Himself said: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Jesus was crucified to fulfill prophecy and was resurrected to conquer death and the works of Satan and for the forgiveness of sins to all who would receive Him. Jesus gave the commission to His disciples to preach the Gospel: Then He said to them, These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me. And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:44-47)

After the resurrection of Christ, the Gospel was first preached on what is known as the Day of Pentecost. Pentecost was a Jewish celebration where many from various regions came to Jerusalem to celebrate the gathering of the harvest. On the Day of Pentecost the prophecy of Joel 2:28-32 came to pass before all those there who were listening to what was called the tongues of fire, which is the promise of the Holy Spirit coming upon them. What Jesus told His disciples in Acts 1:8 had come to pass. Those that were there were amazed and astonished and some were saying these were "drunk with wine". Peter, with the other Apostles, stood up and told them exactly what was talking place and preached to them the Gospel of Jesus Christ, crucified and resurrected (Acts 2:1-36). Those that were there were hearing the preaching from Peter, about Jesus Christ being the promised Messiah, and they were touch and wanted to know what must we do? (Acts 2:37) Peter told them that they must repent of their sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and they would be saved. He said that the promise is for all who will receive this message. (Acts 2:39) Those listening received the message of Peter about Jesus, and, approximately 3000, were baptized into Christ that day. (Acts 2:40-41)

This was the beginning of the early Church, and the Church was growing daily through the message of Gospel. What did it mean to repent and be baptized into Christ? To repent in Christ meant to turn from your ways (ways of the flesh, ways of false thinking, ways of ignorance) and to live for Christ, and to serve Him the rest of your life. To be baptized into Christ was a public declaration to others of your commitment to live for the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is not of the physical act of being baptized by water but the condition of the heart. Peter preached the Gospel and those who were listening were receiving the message and received the gift of the Holy Spirit without being baptized by water. Peter said "Who can refuse them to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit?" (Acts 10:43-48) Peter in his first Epistle said: "There is also an antitype which now saves us baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 3:21) The baptism that is required is the baptism of the heart, receiving the Lord Jesus into your heart, and living for Him in all that you do.

Through the preaching of the Gospel many received the message and turned to Jesus Christ. The New Testament is the account of first-hand eyewitnesses who knew Jesus personally and they wrote letters for Christians in various places. The foundation of the Church is the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and through the preaching of the Apostles and Prophets. (1 Corinthians 3:11 & Ephesians 2:20-22)

The Universal and Local Church

As the Church was growing, they gathered daily to listen to the Apostles teachings, to having fellowship, to have communion and to pray together. (Acts 2:42) The Church was not a building, but it was believers meeting together in people's homes, on a regular basis, to worship God and to grow in their Christian walk. Many people think of Church as a building, but in actuality those who are Christians are the 'Church of Christ'. They are those who have been called out of the darkness and have come into the kingdom of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13 & Colossians 1:13-14). Christians, in different regions, were called Churches of Galatia, or 'the saints' who are in Ephesus and 'the Church' of the Thessalonians. These 'churches' were all identified as the body of Christ in a local area. (Galatians 1:1-2, Ephesians 1:1 & 1 Thessalonians 1:1) The body of Christ is both universal and local meaning that the body of Christ is throughout the world, and is locally within your area.

Believers in Christ are to worship together on a regular basis with other Christians locally. The early Church met with each other, daily and weekly, to worship God and to have fellowship with other believers. (Acts 2:42 & Acts 20:7) It is very important to worship with other Christians on a regular basis in order to grow in the Word, to have fellowship and to interact with other Christians, establishing relationships. Jesus Christ, throughout His ministry, established relationships with people and interacted with them teaching them the truth of the Scriptures. Christians are to be imitators of Christ in word and deed, being lights in a dark world (Ephesians 5:1-2 & Matthew 5:10-16). We are to exhort each other to do good works and not to forsake meeting together. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

In meeting together for worship, we are to praise God by admonishing and teaching one another with the Word, to sing spiritual songs and hymns, singing with thankfulness in our hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16) The Local Church is to have those in spiritual authority to preach the truth, to teach the body of Christ the Scriptures, to lead people to live godly lives, so that they will be able to grow in their Christian walk, to be equipped for the work of ministry and to protect the body from false teachers (Ephesians 4:11-16).

Local Church Ministry

What is local Church ministry? It is serving the body of Christ in your area and also ministering to those who are not Christians in your area. The ministry of the local Church is to reflect Christ in truth and practice. The early Church studied the Scriptures daily and lived their lives in a way that ministered to people's needs, both spiritually and physically (Acts 2:42-47). The Church is to work together to meet the needs of the body of Christ and to minister to them. The Church is the reflection of Christ here on the earth and is to follow His instructions. The expression "what would Jesus do?" is a very popular expression among those who are Christians, and it is one that Christians need to ask themselves. What did Jesus do? He reached out to the outcasts, ministered to those who were sick, helped those who were down cast, gave hope to the hopeless, showed no favoritism and served the people. The Apostles learned how to serve and minister to both those who were believers and non-believers. The local Church is first to serve those who are believers, to minister to them and equip them to be strong in the faith so that they can minister to others. The local Church is also to be a outreach to the lost and to show them the love of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-16 & Matthew 25:31-46)

Serving in your Local Church

The member of the body of Christ have many ways in which they can serve the Church. Each person, who is a Christian, has gifts that God has given them to use and to edify the body of Christ. Paul wrote: For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them (Romans 12:4-6). Many people do not realize they have gifts and callings that God has given them to serve in the body of Christ and to minister to the world. Christians need to know that they are needed and that the body of Christ works together as a unit. There are many gifts and callings that God gives His people to minister to others. Some are called to be Pastors, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, and Teachers, which are ministerial callings (Ephesians 4:11-16). These people have been called by God to serve the Church in this manner. Pastors are to feed the flock with the spiritual word of God and to guide and protect them in their Christian walk. Apostles are those identified as being sent for a particular task, such as messengers or in our day those who are missionaries. Prophets are those who speak forth the Word of God by warning people of living ungodly lives and things on false doctrines through their preaching, and through proclaiming the divine words of God and things to come. Evangelists are those who go from place to place preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and their heart is to lead people to the saving knowledge of knowing Jesus Christ personally. Teachers are those in the body of Christ who are their to teach people accurately the Word of God and to disciple them so that they grow in the faith to maturity.

Every Christian has a gift or gifts to serve in the body of Christ and need to seek where they can serve in their local Church. Christians are to press on to maturity by daily seeking the Lord in their lives where they can serve others. In the body of Christ we are all one, we all need each other and we do not function without each other (1 Corinthians 12:13-27). Christians cannot force gifts to happen, or try to be what God has not called them to be, but are to seek the Lord for where He has called them and what gifts He has given them. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us our gifts and calls us into ministry and we need to seek His guidance in our lives (1 Corinthians 12:11). Where is your heart, what do you desire to do for others? Do you have a heart for people? Do you wish to share the Word of God with other people? Do you have a desire to serve by being involved in worship (music ministry)? When you come to Christ you are a part of the body and the Lord has plans and desires for you to serve in your local Church. Jesus said where your treasure is there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21) What treasure do you have to serve in the Church?

The Christian Church has been around for almost 2,000 years, and continues to grow every day. Today the Church needs more than ever the unity and the ministry of those who are in Christ. Throughout history the Church has had many obstacles which have tried to destroy the body of Christ, but Jesus promised that the Church would never be destroyed. (Matthew 16:18) Just as in the times of the early Church until now the body of Christ has worked together to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to minister to the body of Christ, and meet the needs of the people. The Church of Jesus Christ is to live daily for the Lord and to put Him first in all that they do, and to be involved serving others. (Matthew 6:33; 16:24-25 & 1 Corinthians 12:13-27) May we, as Christians, admonish one another in the Lord to do good works in serving the Lord, the body of Christ, and unto the world, Amen.