The New Testament Churches Of God(their History, Order And Conflict) - Introduction

by T.M. Hyland, Birkenhead | Category: The New Testament Churches Of God(their History, Order And C | Jan 1982

For almost a century contributors to this magazine have consistently and unreservedly contended for the divine inspiration and absolute authority of the Holy Scriptures. Having taken the ground that Holy Scripture is the sole arbiter in Christian doctrine and practice, it would be superfluous at this stage to argue the case for the authority of the twenty-six documents we call the New Testament. This we take for granted. But it is necessary to reiterate the point as we embark on this series of articles entitled "The New Testament Churches of God" because contributors to the series will have occasion to refer to certain dogmas and practices which, although widely regarded as orthodox, find no place in the teaching of our Lord and His apostles. One has only to consult any of the numerous "Church" Histories to discover the wide range of appendages, devoid of Scriptural authority, which have become attached to the authentic Christian faith. Although not embodied in "the faith once for all delivered unto the saints", these have become so firmly entrenched in the thinking of many that even to question their validity is regarded as heretical. It will be our endeavour in this series of articles to submit these to the supreme test of New Testament authority.

What is "The Church"?

This must be our starting point. We need a Scriptural definition to place alongside the vague ideas associated in common parlance with the term "the church". It means different things to different persons. To some it describes the Roman Catholic communion; to others, the Eastern Orthodox persuasion. Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists and many others apply it to their particular denomination. Then there is that other prevalent notion that classes all the denominations as "branches of the Christian Church". Such loose usage of the word "church" has led to widespread confusion of thought on a mainline Christian doctrine. Rational dialogue demands that we define the terms we use. With this in view we ask which (if any) of the above definitions is in accord with the teaching of our Lord and His apostles. In our present enquiry that is a crucial issue.

We turn now to the well-known passage (Matthew 16:13-18) giving the first New Testament reference to this matter. Here our Lord expresses His intention to build what He describes as "My Church". Brief treatment only of this historic declaration is possible here. For our present purpose the following points are relevant:

(i)"I will build My Church ..." denotes futurity. The building was not yet in process. This awaited Christ's atoning death, triumphant resurrection and ascension to the Father. The day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was outpoured, marked the starting-point. The building will proceed throughout this age and when the Church is complete the Lord will return and present it to Himself.

(ii)The foundation of the Church is indicated in the words, "upon this rock I will build ...". This could not refer to Peter personally because although an apostle he was a failing man like ourselves. "This rock" is Christ Himself or the bedrock fact of His Deity as expressed in Peter's confession, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God". There is an interlock between these alternative interpretations of the Lord's words.

(iii)The Builder of the Church is Christ. Its stability and security are ensured by His omnipotent power - "the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it".

(iv)"My Church" is composed of persons who, Peter-like, have received divine enlightenment and are born again: "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" (1 John 5:1, AV). From Pentecost onwards all such are in one Spirit baptized into one Body (1 Cor. 12:13).

The Church of which our Lord spoke was the subject of divine counsel before the foundation of the world. But until announced by Him at Caesarea Philippi the wonderful project remained a divine secret. It is designated by the apostle Paul "the Church, which is His (Christ's) Body" (Eph. 1:22, 23). Christ is "the Head of the Body, the Church" (Col. 1:18); believers are "members of His Body" (Eph. 5:30). The bond of the members to the Head and to each other is not severed by death. One day His Church, glorious and spotless, will be beside Him in glory - "the fulness of Him that filleth all in all" (Eph. 1:23).

It is clear from this brief review that in Biblical terms "My Church", "the Church which is His Body", is the total of all born again persons from Pentecost until the Lord comes. In view of its composition, character and destiny the following propositions are submitted for comparison with the loose usage of the term "the Church" cited earlier in this article:

1.The Church which is Christ's Body is being formed and equipped in this age for service in the age to come (see Eph. 4:11-16; Col. 2:19).

2.The Body, being in process of formation is incomplete; the greater number of its members are already at home with the Lord. Therefore it cannot be a functioning organization on earth at any given time.

3.While on earth, members of the Body, being integral parts of a living organism, should manifest the character of their heavenly calling and destiny.

What are "Churches of God"?

The title of this series of articles indicates the focus of our present studies. It will be our aim to ascertain the precise meaning of the term "Church of God", and to whom it applied in the apostolic writings. Further, we will look at the history and order of some church of God specifically mentioned in the New Testament, leaving aside for the moment whether any company of Christians today is entitled to claim that status. This will be considered in the final article in the series.

The first point to resolve is whether or not the term "Church of God" is simply a synonym for the Church, the Body of Christ. If the three propositions submitted in the former part of this article are sound, the answer to that question is clearly no. The formation of what our Lord called "My Church" is an age-long process and therefore it cannot act as an organized entity on earth at any given time. Conversely, the term "Church of God" is applied to a group of persons in a particular locality (e.g. Corinth) who meet together for worship and who serve together under the care and government of elders, or overseers. Moreover, "there is one Body" (Eph. 4:4), whereas many churches of God were founded as a result of apostolic labours. These and other distinctions of identity and purpose will be substantiated as these studies proceed.

Before the risen Lord ascended to heaven to take His place at the right hand of God, He met with His apostles during a period of forty days and outlined to them "the things concerning the Kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3). Few details of those conversations are given, but their substance is embodied in our Lord's post-resurrection commission to His apostles:

All authority hath been given unto Me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world (Matt. 28:18-20).

This definitive declaration ranks in importance with our Lord's former historic announcement at Caesarea Philippi, and is, indeed, an expansion of it. It signifies that while the building of "My Church" is in progress there would be established among His disciples on earth a new expression of the kingdom of God. "Jesus Christ is Lord" was to be the corner stone of apostolic preaching. All that is on record of the labours and ministry of the apostles can be fitted into the framework of the Great Commission of Matt. 28:18-20. Being men under authority, the teaching and methods of the apostles were not self-conceived. They worked from their Master's blueprint; their words were "the commandment of the Lord" (2 Pet. 3:2). And because a principal consequence of their life-work was the founding and maintenance of churches of God, such matters must have been given a prominent place among "the things concerning the kingdom of God" communicated to them by the risen Lord.

We arrive, then, at this conclusion: The descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples assembled in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost had a dual consequence. The building of the age-long project, "My Church", commenced, and at the same time the first of the New Testament churches of God was founded. Thereupon the apostles began their preaching, and those who received the word, about three thousand in number, were enlisted as disciples of the Lord Jesus and baptize~ in water as the outward sign of their allegiance to Him. They were then "added" to the newly formed church in Jerusalem.

A fourth proposition can now be added to the three submitted in the former part of this article:

4.God's will is that members of the Church, the Body of Christ, should, during their earthly pilgrimage, accept the obligations of discipleship and be added to a church of God. There, in association with other disciples, they have opportunity to give practical effect to their affinity in the Body of Christ.

Apostolic Strategy

A notable reinforcement of apostolic strength occurred when Saul of Tarsus met the ascended Lord on the Damascus road. The persecutor of the first church of God was chosen, transformed and commissioned to be in the forefront of the apostolic campaign. It was the aim of this devoted band, directed and empowered by the Spirit of God, to ring the Graeco-Roman world with churches of God after the pattern of that first one in Jerusalem. The Acts of the Apostles gives some details of their travels and of the opposition they incurred in carrying out their commission.

The purpose of these articles is to look afresh at the basic principles which guided the apostles in their care of the New Testament churches.

T.M. Hyland, Birkenhead | Jan 1982
The New Testament Churches Of God(their History, Order And C