I'm very thankful for the presence of everyone this
morning and I'm very glad to be your speaker as was mentioned at
the beginning of services. My name is Jacob Kell so many
people know me as Richard Butters grandson.
I'm out here studying with brother Alan Bonifay to better
become a gospel preacher. I'm very thankful for the
opportunity. That's been presented to me to
stand before you to present a portion of God's word.
That's a very serious responsibility, it's not one to
be taken lightly. Lately whoever gets up here
needs to present something. Accurate from the word of God
and they need to present it an understandable way.
And I'm honored that I've been asked to do such this morning.
I'd like to talk to you about the church that the prophet saw.
We're going to be looking at the establishment of the church and
some prophecies that concern it, and Lord willing this afternoon,
I'd like to talk to you about the counsel of God and I invite
you to come back this afternoon but and reduce my thoughts this
morning I'd like to ask us Series of eight questions.
So question number one, in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, what
happened to the metal, as you viewed it from the top and move
down, and this is the image that we see in Daniel chapter 2.
So Nebuchadnezzar's dream, what happens to the metal as you
viewed it from the top and move down.
Question number two, why was the Lord's church called a kingdom?
Why would the Lord call his church?
A kingdom number three. According to the Bible.
When did the last days began? Number four.
What definite sign what occurred to let me know that the last
days had arrived. Number five, according to
Isaiah. Where would the Lord's Church
begin? And we could also ask the
question. What city would the Lord's
Church began in? That's what we're getting at
with that question. Number 6 was John the baptizer
member of the Lord's Church. Number 7, what chapter in the
New Testament? Shows the establishment of the
Lord's Church. And number eight, how can we
find the Lord's church today? When there are so many different
churches out in the world to choose from.
So, if you do not already know the answer to these questions,
hopefully by the end of our study this morning, you'll have
a better understanding of the answer to those questions for.
We get into the sermon will approach God and word of prayer.
What I hope to accomplish and preaching the sermon this
morning is show how the church is important to God, and how he
had a divine plan in order to bring the church into the world
at just the right time. And this is important talk to
give concerning the views that people have out in the world
concerning the church. Get a little ahead of myself
there. There are a lot of people out in
the world today that believe that the church is not
necessary. If you go out knocking doors to
evangelize and to meet people, you say hi, I'm from the Church
of Christ and I'd like to invite you to Services.
They will save you while we're Christians, but we don't go to
church. They believe you can be a
Christian without being a member of any church.
Church. And there are a lot of people
that they pick their Church based off of what teaches
because they don't want to be told what to do.
However, the Bible has a completely different view
concerning the church. For example, there are people
out in the world today that say that the church was an accident
that it was Plan B after the Jews crucified Jesus.
However, in Ephesians chapter 3, verse 10 and 11, The scripture
says layer and move my mic to the intent that now, the
manifold wisdom of God, might be made known by the church to the
principalities and powers in Heavenly places.
According to the Eternal purpose, which he accomplished
in Christ Jesus. Our lord.
So there's a passage showing up, the church was in God's Eternal
plans and we're going to come back and reference.
These passages again later in the sermon, but I just want to
read real quickly. The church is the bride of
Christ according to Chapter 5 and verse 25 there.
The Bible says husband's love your wives, just as Christ.
Also loved the church and gave himself for her.
And also, we read that, the church is important to God
because Jesus is the head of the church, and he is the savior of
the body. That's what we find in Ephesians
chapter 5 and verse 23. So the church is supremely
important to God just based on this alone before we even get
into these prophecies, that we're going to talk about, we
can see that God. Plan plan the church.
Earth before he created the world.
I want to invite your attention to Daniel chapter 2 and we'll
look at verses 31 through, 35. And while you're turning to
Daniel chapter 2 and will begin at verse 31, giving a little
background of what's going on here, Daniel is in Babylonian
captivity and the king of Babylon, was a man by the name
of Nebuchadnezzar. He was a wicked King one night,
Nebuchadnezzar has a nightmare and this nightmare is going to
be described was, but he brings his wise men and his magicians
has soothsayers. Other, he says, I want you to
interpret a dream that I've had, but before you interpret the
dream, I want you to tell me what I dreamed that way, I know
that you're telling the truth and of course, the wise man, the
soothsayers couldn't do this. They said, oh King live forever,
but once you're requesting is impossible, he said you don't
understand if you don't do this, I'm going to put all of you to
death. And so, a decree went out and
Babylon that all the wise men and the interpreters of Dreams
be put to death. However, Daniel prays to God.
God reveals the dream to Daniel and Daniel request, be brought
to Nebuchadnezzar and we picked up our reading.
Now. Verse 31, the Daniel to Daniel
says Nebuchadnezzar, you will King we're watching and behold a
great image. This great image whose Splendor
was excellent. Stood before you and explore
most awesome. This images head was of fine,
gold, its chest, and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of
bronze. Its legs of iron its feet,
partly of iron and partly of clay.
You watch Flawless Stone was cut out without hands which struck
the image on its feet of iron and clay and broke them in
pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the
bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together and became
like chaff from the summer threshing floors, the wind
carried them away. So that no trace of them was
found and the stone that struck the image became a great
mountain and filled the whole earth.
We're going to talk about the interpretation of this dream.
That Nebuchadnezzar had, but I just want you to get an idea of
what this looks like here. I'm glad we don't have a
whiteboard, I have the PowerPoint because drawing, this
is really difficult, but get an idea of what this image looked
like. It had a head of gold here, it
had chest and arms made of silver.
The belly and the thighs were made of bronze.
Some translations say it was made of brass and the legs are
made of iron, the feet partly of iron and partly of clay and what
these were indicating were different kingdoms of the earth.
Notice as you move down that each It all becomes inferior in
some way but it becomes stronger.
And the Bible says that these would represent the different
kingdoms of the earth as we did to the interpretation of the
dream continuing. Now in verse 36, will go verse
36 or 38, Daniel says the Nebuchadnezzar.
This is the dream. Now we will tell the
interpretation of it before the king, you will king, or a king
of kings for the god of Heaven, has given you a kingdom, power
strength, and glory, and wherever the children of Men
dwell or the beasts of the field, the birds of the heaven.
He has given them into your hand and has made you ruler over
them. All you are this head of gold.
So that had a full was going to represent the Babylonian
Kingdom. How do I know that it
represented Babylon? It doesn't represent.
Just Nebuchadnezzar himself on verse 39, Daniel continues to
say, but after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to
yours. And the Bible itself tells us
what this next Kingdom after Babylon would be.
It would be the medo-persian kingdom and we find this in
Daniel chapter 5 in Daniel chapter 5, Daniel is
interpreting some mysterious handwriting on the wall to
belshazzar. And he says, in Daniel chapter 5
verse 28 to 31 Perry's. Your kingdom has been divided
and given to the medes and Persians.
Then belshazzar gave the command and they closed Daniel with
purple and put a chain of gold around his neck and made a
proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third
ruler. Her in the Kingdom that very
night, belshazzar King of the Chaldeans was slain and Darius,
the mede receive the kingdom being about 62 years old but
there is going to arise a third Kingdom that was coming after
the medo-persian kingdom and that was the Grecian Kingdom.
Once again the Bible itself tells us that this would happen.
We find this in Daniel chapter 8, verse 20 through 21 And
Daniel 8:20 there. It reads the ram which you saw
having the two horns. They are the kings of media and
Persia. And the male goat is the kingdom
of Greece, the large horn that is between its eyes as the first
king. But finally, there was going to
rise a fourth Kingdom. And this describe for us as we
continue on Daniel chapter 2, picking up in verses 14 through
44, Daniel says the Nebuchadnezzar and the fourth
Kingdom shall be as strong as iron and as much as I am, Make
some pieces and shatters everything and like iron that
crushes that Kingdom will break in pieces and Crush all the
others. Whereas he saw the feet and Toes
partly of potters clay and partly of iron.
The kingdom shall be divided. Yet the strength of the iron
shall be in it just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay
and as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of
clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly
fragile. As he saw iron mixed with
ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men but they
won't. Adhere to one another just as
iron does not mix with clay and then the days of these Kings.
So the kings of the fourth Kingdom being talked about here
and the days of these Kings, the god of heaven will set up a
kingdom and it shall never be destroyed and the kingdom shall
not be left with other people. It shall break in pieces and
consume all these kingdoms and it shall stand forever.
And this worth Kingdom that Daniel was describing here will
be in the Roman Empire and it wasn't going to be as elaborate
as go. Gold or a silver but it was
going to be stronger. And during the Roman Empire, God
was going to set up his kingdom which would never be destroyed.
Now that leads us to the question.
What is the kingdom? We started off by saying that
we're talking about the church that the prophet saw.
So what is this Kingdom that we're talking about?
I want to invite your attention to Matthew chapter 16.
And as we consider verses 13 through 19, we read that Jesus
came to the region of caesarea Philippi with his disciples.
And he asked his disciples saying, who do men say that?
I the son of man. And, and so they said some say
that you're John the Baptist others say that your Jeremiah or
one of the prophets, but Jesus asked them, who do you say that
I am and Peter speaking up for the 11th said, you are the
Christ, the son of the Living God, and Jesus said, blessed,
are you Simon bar Jonah? For flesh and blood has not
revealed this to you. But my father who is in heaven
and in verses 18 through 19, he says, and I also saved you that
you are Peter. And on this rock, I will build
my church. And the gates of Hades shall not
Prevail against it. And he says, in verse 19 and I
will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven and whatever
you bind on Earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose
on Earth will be loosed in heaven.
So in one pass, one verse Jesus describes this as his church and
it'll He says that it would be the kingdom of heaven.
Now, why would the Lord called his church?
A kingdom? One reason would be to indicate
what kind of government would be within this church, it wasn't
going to be Anarchy, where no one rules, and it was going to
be a democracy where you voted on the leader, and you voted on
the ordinances of that government.
But rather the church operates like a kingdom, Jesus would be
the king, we would be his subjects, and he makes the
ordinances that we follow. But Daniel has a little bit more
to say concerning this Kingdom or this church we go now to
Daniel chapter 7 verses 13 through 14.
And in Daniel chapter 7, beginning at verse 13, Daniel
says, I was watching and the night visions and behold, one
like the son of man coming with the Clouds Of Heaven.
He came to the Ancient of Days and they brought him near before
him, then to him was given dominion and glory.
And a kingdom that all peoples Nations and languages should
serve him. His Dominion is an everlasting
Dominion which shall not pass away and his kingdom, the one,
which shall not be destroyed. So, from this, we learn that the
heaven. King would begin when the son of
man, ascended, the Clouds Of Heaven.
And the scripture says that he would approach the Ancient of
Days. In other words, he was going to
approach God, the father. And when he did an everlasting
Kingdom would be given to him. So according to Daniel during
the Roman Empire, God was going to a set up his kingdom and that
would be when the son of man, ascends to heaven.
And then God would establish the church or the kingdom, which
shall never be destroyed. Now, Isaiah gives us a little
bit more. More information concerning this
church, or this Kingdom, which the Lord would establish.
So we'll go now to Isaiah chapter 2 verses 23 and in
Isaiah chapter 2. Beginning at verse to Isaiah
says, now, it shall come to pass in the latter days that the
mountain of the Lord's house, shall be established on the top
of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills and All
Nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say
come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord to the
house of the god of Jacob. He will teach us his ways and we
shall walk in his paths for out of Zion shall go forth, the law
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
So Isaiah describes this as the Lord's House.
I don't want to point out with a passage of scripture that the
Lord's House is the church or the kingdom because Paul writes
to Timothy. And First Timothy chapter 3 and
verse 15. He says to Timothy but if I am
delayed, all right? So that you may know how you
ought to conduct yourself. And the house of God, which is
the Church of the Living. God, the pillar and ground of
the truth. So I say is writing a prophecy
here concerning the church. He says that it would come and
the latter days. So when would the latter days
come, how would we know that the last days had come well, a
prophecy from Joel 2:28. Gives us an indication of when
the last days would come and Joel, 2:28.
Joel had said, it shall come to pass in the latter days.
Says God that I will pour out of my spirit on All Flesh, your
sons and your daughters shall prophesy your young men shall
see visions and your old men shall dream dreams.
So the latter days or the last days will come when the Holy
Spirit was poured out on All Flesh, then the church would be
established. Now, this would refer to the
last days of the Jewish Nation, it would be destroyed.
As a nation and 8070 also, it could refer to the last
dispensation that we live under. You have the patriarch, will
dispensation the Mosaic. Dispensation, and today we live
under the Christian. Dispensation also though, Isaiah
says that all nations are going to flow to the house of God, to
the kingdom to the church. And that means that it wouldn't
be just for the Jews but it would be for the Gentiles as
well. And there's a prophecy to
Abraham was fulfilled and When God said to Abraham, in Genesis,
chapter 12 and verse 3, I will bless those who bless you and I
will curse him who curses you and in you all the families of
the Earth shall be blessed. And also, according to Isaiah
chapter 2, where told where the Lord's Church would begin and
that is in Jerusalem. So let's summarize what we've
learned. So far, God will establish his
kingdom during the Roman Empire. It will be when the son of man,
ascended to the father. All nations were going to flow
to it. It will be in the Last days how
will we know that it was the last days?
The Holy Spirit would be poured out on All Flesh and the Lord's
Church would begin in Jerusalem. I want to share with you another
prophecy though. Concerning the Lord's Kingdom or
church and that's a prophecy that Jesus prophesied and Luke
24:46 through 49. So Luke, 24:46 through 49.
Jesus is speaking to his Apostles and he says 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 and you are witnesses of these things.
Behold I send the promise of my father upon you but Terry and
the City of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on
high. Now what would this have to do
with the establishment of the church?
Well the apostles are told to stay in the city that Isaiah
have. Prophesied that the Lord's
Church would begin in there. Also told that they are going to
receive power from the Holy Spirit, a signal that the last
days have become had come and Jesus gave another indication
of, when this Kingdom, this church had come and that would
be when repentance and remission of sins was preached in his
name. So we're going to add that to
the list here. God will set up his kingdom
during the Roman Empire. The son of man, with a sin to
the father, all nations are going to flow to it.
It will be in the last. Days.
When God's spirit was poured out on All Flesh, it would begin in
Jerusalem and repentance. And remission of sins would be
preached and the name of Jesus. Now, with we come to the New
Testament, we see that time is getting close for the church or
for the kingdom, which has been prophesied of to begin because
of Matthew chapter 3 verse 1 through 2 In those days, John
the Baptist went out into the Wilderness of Judea, I'm
preaching and saying, repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at
hand. Now, notice the message that
John was preaching here. Either not say that the kingdom
had yet. Come but rather it was at hand.
It was close but not yet. Jesus.
Would preach the same message and Matthew chapter 4.
And verse 17, it says, from that time, Jesus began to preach and
to saying, repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and
he would send his fossils to preach the same message as well.
And Matthew chapter 10 verse 5 through 7, We read these 12
referring to the apostles. Jesus sent out and commanded
them saying, do you not go into the way of the Gentiles and do
not enter a city of the Samaritans, but go rather to the
lost sheep of the House of Israel.
And as you go preach saying the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand
that might lead. Some to the question, the John,
the Baptist built the church, was he establisher of the
church? Well, I think we can reason
logically with this. When we see that John's death is
recorded for us in Matthew chapter 4, Teen as some
preachers like to joke, he preached his head off because he
was speaking against herodias and parents relationship and
which herodias had him beheaded or Herod would have him beheaded
for what he said against herodias.
However, and from Matthew chapter 14, we got a Matthew
16:18, which we just read. And which Jesus was yet, saying
I will build my church, so the church had not yet, come again
at a parallel account. Of this Mark chapter 6 again we
see that John's death is recorded however and Mark
chapter 9, and verse 1. Jesus is speaking to his
disciples and he says them assuredly, I say to you, there
are some standing here who will not taste death, till they see
the kingdom of God present with power.
Let's talk about this for just a second.
So if the church is not the kingdom and the kingdom did not
come in the lifetime of some of these Apostles that are prophecy
of Jesus. This is what a fail to come to
pass because he said that it would come before, some had
tasted death. But back to the question that
don't know about this built the church.
Well, no, John was dead but the church, the kingdom was still
talked of in the future. And fact, we have recorded for
us after the death of Jesus. And Mark 15:43, a man waiting
for the kingdom. It's Joseph of Arimathea and
he's described as a prominent council member who was himself
waiting for the king. Name of God, he came to take
courage, went to pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, so
it's obvious, then that John the Baptist.
These are built the church nor was he a member of it?
Well, that leads us to the question though.
Where these prophecies concerning the church or the
kingdom fulfilled. We go now to Acts chapter 1,
well, consider Verses 4 through 9.
Acts chapter 1, beginning in verse 4, the Bible says, and
being assembled together with them, he commanded them not to
depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father,
which he said you have heard for me, for John, truly baptized
with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit,
not many days from now. Therefore, when they had come
together, they asked him saying, Lord, will you at this time
restore the kingdom to Israel? And he said to them, it is not
for you to know times or Seasons which the father has put in his
own authority. But So, I receive power when the
Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to me
in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of
the Earth. So things are getting just
right. For these prophecies about the
church, to be fulfilled already during the lifetime of Jesus.
And the apostles, they lived under the Roman Empire.
There are commanded to go back to Jerusalem and Jesus ascends
into the clouds and verse 9 continuing on.
It says, now when he had spoken these things while they watched,
he was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight.
So the apostles did just as Jesus commanded, they returned
to Jerusalem and on a Sunday morning the year a.d. 30, we go
to Acts chapter 2, verse, 1, through 4 and there.
The Bible says, when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they
were all with one Accord in one place.
And suddenly, there came a sound from Heaven as of a rushing,
Mighty Wind and it filled the whole house, where they were
sitting, Then there appeared to them divided tongues as of fire
and one side upon each of them and they were all filled with
the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the
spirit, gave them utterance. So, here we see the holy spirit
being poured out, but was this actually fulfillment of the Old
Testament prophecy about the spirit being poured out on All
Flesh. Was we continue in Acts.
Chapter 2. We read in verse 5, that there
were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews devout men from every nation
under heaven. And when the sound occurred, the
multitude came together. They They were confused because
they heard them speaking each in his own language and it's
described for us in verses, 7 through 11, all the different
nations that were present to hear what was taking place.
And verse 12 says that they were all amazed and there will Plex
saying to one another, whatever. Could this mean others mocking
said they are full of new wine. But, Peter standing up with the
eleven raised his voice and said that the men of Judea and all
who dwell on, Jerusalem. Let this be known to you and
heed my words for these are not drunk as you suppose, since it
is only the third hour of the day.
But this is what was spoken by the prophet, Joel verse 16,
verse 17. Now it shall come to pass in the
last days says God that I will pour out of my spirit on All
Flesh. Your sons and your daughters
shall prophesy your young men shall see visions and your old
men shall dream dreams so this really was a fulfillment then of
these prophecies. We just said that Jesus and the
apostles they lived under the Roman Empire so that has been
fulfilled. Jesus and acts 1:9 has a sin
Added to the father. All nations are present here in
Acts chapter 2 to hear the message that Peter is going to
preach. This was in the last days we
know because the Holy Spirit had been poured out and it spread
there in Jerusalem to hear all of what is going to be said.
There's only one thing to be fulfilled and that is repentance
and remission of sins, being preached, in Jesus name.
So Peter began to preach the gospel to these people.
He told them how Jesus was the true Messiah.
How he is. I'm justly condemned how he died
for their sins and that he rose from the grave and that he's now
in heaven at the right hand of God and we find in Acts chapter
2, verse 36 through 38 that Peter says to them.
Therefore let all the house of Israel, know, assuredly that God
has made this Jesus. Whom you crucified both Lord and
Christ. Now, when they heard this, they
were cut to the heart and they said to Peter and the rest of
the Apostles men and Brethren. What shall we do?
Then Peter said to them. Repent.
Paint and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of
the holy spirit. So what did these people do?
According to acts 2:41, it says those that gladly received his
word were baptized about three thousand Souls were added to
them. What were they added to or go
down to verse 47 of Acts 2. Which says praising God and
having favor with all the people and the Lord added to the church
daily, those who were being saved.
So here for the first time, we can see the church being spoken
of as a present reality. From this point of, from this
point on men of God, could truthfully say that they were
part of the kingdom of God, Paul would say in Colossians 1:13,
God has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed
us into the kingdom of the son of his love John.
Say in Revelation, chapter 1 and verse 9.
I John both your brother and companion in the tribulation and
Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, he describes it, he was
on the Isle of Patmos. So we see then that the church
was not an accident as some, some religious groups preach nor
is it a non-essential, as many out in the world think.
But rather, we find from Ephesians chapter 3 verse 10 and
11, that the church was in the Eternal plans of God and we can
see See by studying this that he carefully worked out his plan to
bring the church into the world at just the right time.
And as we've stated before when Jesus died, he was dying for his
church because Ephesians 5:25 says husband's, love your wives.
Just as Christ. Also loved the church and gave
himself for her, with all of this in mind, I want to say,
brothers, sisters and friends. You don't want to waste your
time. The wrong Church, the devil was
real and he is busy creating his own churches to deceive people.
You know, a lot of people have this cliche view of what the
devil would be. Like, he's portrayed in our
mainstream society as a red, man, with horns and he's got a
pitchfork and he wears a suit, right?
Well, that's not the way that the Bible describes him.
The Bible describes the devil, as a liar and the father of
lies, he's a very deceptive person.
He knows how to bait the hook at just the right way to leave.
You away from God. Let me tell you some things
about the devil doesn't care if you go to church.
Just as long as you go to the wrong one.
He doesn't care if you worship God, just as long as you don't
do it. The way that God has told you
to, and he doesn't care. Even if you read the Bible just,
as long as you don't deal with the Bible says, so how can you
find the right church? And the midst of all of these
different churches that have been established?
Remember now, the prophecy of Daniel 2:44 said that the
kingdom were the Lord's Church would never be destroyed.
So it's still around today, but how do we find it?
Let's go to First John chapter 2 verse 3 through 5. and first
John chapter 2 verse 3 through 5, John would say now by this,
we know that we know him if we keep his Commandments he who
says I know him and does not keep his Commandments is a liar
and the truth is not in him but whoever keeps his word.
Truly, the love of God is perfected in him by this.
We know that we are in him. This passage shows to us, we
don't have to guess. We don't have to assume that we
know God and that we are in good graces with him, if we're
keeping his Commandments, you know, a Illustration, I can give
to help illustrate the point suppose that I were to walk in
this morning, many of you don't know who I am, but suppose I
were to walk in and they say hi. My name is Allen Bonifay.
You might say, no, you're not. The Alan Bonifay, that I know
you might say. You don't look anything like
Alan Bonifay at you weren't born in the same place that he was
your, I can say whatever I want. He's not here.
You're not as old as Island Bonifay.
Well, the same way, there are distinguishing characteristics
concerning the church, which we've looked out this morning
and which we can show. This person is not from the
Lord's church. For example, there are churches
out in the world that do not observe the Lord's Supper on
Sunday morning, however, in Acts 20:7 and we read that the Church
of the Bible. The Lord's Church gathered every
first day of the week to break bread, or how there are many
churches that don't look like the Lord's church, because up in
the corner of the Building they'll have instruments meant
for playing the guitar during Services.
When Ephesians 5:19, says that weird the sing and make melody
in our heart to the Lord and the Church of the Bible.
As we've looked at was founded in Jerusalem, that's where it
was prophesied to begin in. That's where it began during the
Roman Empire and 8030 8033. So it wasn't, it wasn't It's not
some of these churches here on this slide that I have.
And the reason I have this slide is to show there are many that
are not as old as Lord's church and they weren't established the
same place that the Lord's Church of the Bible was
established in. Now, this is an objective list
and that's all that concerns. The Lord's church.
I throw that out as well. There are many things in the
scriptures and which the Lord's church needs to be following.
But rather just a little illustration concern.
How we can know the Lord's church, but as I conclude,
there's the popular idea that the that the church is not
necessary. That it's a nice place to go on
special occasions, that it was an accident.
It was a plan B, when the Jews executed Christ and they often
view it as not necessary. The church is often viewed as an
extravagance, which we can do without, but what do these
prophecies that we've looked at? She'll Alice?
Well, they tell us Church. It was in the Eternal purposes
of God and considering our postures, that we've looked at.
We can also say that we cannot be saved without the church and
Ephesians 5:23. Again, Paul would say that the
husband is the head of the wife just as Christ.
Also is the head of the church and he's the savior of the body.
So it's extremely important that we come into the church.
That the prophets, all that we come into the kingdom of God.
How do we do that? Jesus taught the one.
Born again to enter the kingdom. This is in John chapter 3
verses, 3 through 5 Nicodemus comes to Jesus.
And Jesus says, unless one is born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God. And Nicodemus is puzzled.
He asked, can a man enter into his mother's womb a second time
and be born again. Jesus, specifies in verse 5,
unless one is born of the water. And of the spirit, he cannot
enter the kingdom of God. There are many people that
understand what born of water means, that is.
To be baptized for the remission of sins.
But what does it mean to be born of the spirit?
I think we can get a better understanding of this.
If we go to a passage in which Paul talks to those that were
born again, he talks to the church, a talks to the Church
Street itís rather in Titus Chapter 3 Verse 4 through 7.
And here Paul says, but when the kindness and the love of God,
our savior toward man appeared not by works of righteousness,
which we have done. But according to his Mercy, he
saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the
Holy Spirit whom he poured out on us abundantly through.
Jesus Christ, Our Savior, and having been justified by his
grace, we should become heirs, according to the hope of eternal
life. Also in First Peter, chapter 1,
verse 22 through 23, Peter would write to all believers members
of the church when he says you have purified your souls in
obeying the truth through the spirit and sincere love of the
Brethren. Love one, another fervently was
a pure heart, having been born again not of corruptible seed
but Incorruptible through the word of God which lives and
abides forever. So if you are not entered the
kingdom or the church, the prophets.
All we. Now extend you an invitation?
Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and are you
willing to be born again to enter his kingdom to do that?
We read that one must be baptized and they must be born
of the spirit. If we can help you with that
this morning, we greatly encourage you to come forward
while we stand and sing. We thank you for listening to
our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.
Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional
information or you would like to receive a free Bible
correspondence, course by mail. Please email us at info at True
Church of Christ Bakersfield.com.
Our service times are on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and
Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Please make plans to join us.
We would love for you to be our honored guest.