IX ECCLESIOLOGY Doctrine of the Church or the Teaching of the Church

The word Church (called out assembly) is made up of all who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior (Old and New Testament). The Universal Church, refers to all believers in eternity who are saved and those who are and still to be saved in this world today. All saints are members of the eternal Kingdom of God, but the Body of Christ refers to the local church of today, Ephesians 1:22,23 which is the program where God is calling men to salvation. This dispensation started in the mid Acts historical account found in chapters, 8-13 and will be completed at the rapture. Whenever speaking or studying the word church in the Bible, one needs to ask which church, and in what dispensation are you reading about or teaching. (Assembly is same Greek word for church, and used even for other types of assemblies in scripture,  Acts 19:32,39; also the word is used for the church or assembly of believers in the Old Testament, Acts 7:38; then used to describe believers after Jesus Christ's resurrection, Acts 20:17). The New Covenant started at, Acts 2, and is not to be confused with a dispensation. A dispensation is not a covenant and a covenant is not a dispensation.

There are some names which clearly describes accurately the church of today:

1. The Dispensation of Grace, Eph. 3:2 or
2. The Dispensation of Equality, Eph. 2:11-22,
3. The Body of Christ, Eph. 1:22-23; Col.1:18. 

I. The New Covenant became operational at Pentecost and completes all former dispensations and it is the redemptive completion of the provision for mankind's eternal salvation.

A. There are four phases relating to the New Covenants' beginning:

1. First, the coming of the Messiah of Israel being born of a virgin.
2. Second, the life and death of Jesus Christ.
3. Third, the resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ.
4. Fourth, the coming of the Holy Spirit which indwells the believer permanently, making the New Covenant operational.

B. The New Covenant completes the old testament (Covenant). The blood covering of the old covenant was a sacrificial animal for sin. The animal sacrifice was only temporary, waiting for the complete forgiveness through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The Lord took those who believe Him to heaven from paradise at His resurrection which included all those who died believing before that time, Eph. 4:8-10, Psalm 68:18.

C. Israel was ordained (the stewards) to be the dispensers of the New Covenant but failed as old testament prophecy foretold. After their failure, the 70th week of Daniel was to be carried out on the world. However, God revealed a New program and made all mankind equal. Through His new ordained instrument (the stewardship of) the church that is identified as the body of Christ, He would work redemption. Today's program for believers will end with the rapture, believers caught up to Heaven and those who are not saved will go into the Tribulation judgment. Today's dispensation is call by different names, the dispensation of the Grace of God, the mystery dispensation, the dispensation of equality, and the parentheses administration, (or overlaid dispensation). Why, because each of the names describe an aspect of the dispensation which makes it uniquely different from the dispensation with Israel and other dispensations.

1. The parentheses age describes the insertion or overlay of today's program coming between or overlaying the Nation of Israel prophetic fulfillment of the 70th week of Daniel, Romans 11:7-10 cf. 25-29, (See chapter of book on the Dispensation of Grace and the overlay). God inserted the dispensation of today which separates this prophetic program of Israel that is part of the mystery revealed to the apostles which the Apostle Paul wrote in his twelve books. Today’s dispensation is preventing the seven year tribulation period to begin. After this dispensation is completed do to failure of believers and permeation of wickedness of non-believers, the prophetic tribulation will be completed.
   
   Part of the mystery of this dispensation is the continuous judgment on the Nation of Israel called 'Time of the Gentiles'.  The Time of the Gentile judgment end with Christ Jesus literally return to earth called 'The Day of the Lord' this follows the last of two phases of the Time of the Gentiles, (The dispensation of today and the tribulation period or 70th week of Daniel, also call the time of God' wrath on earth). The actual Time of the Gentile began in the Old Testament when the Nation of Israel went into captivity, first the Northern tribes then the Southern.

2. The mystery dispensation describes that today's administration was hid in God and not revealed until the Nation of Israel's failure by not accepting their ordained responsibility, Romans 11:13, 25,26; 16:25,26; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:26.
3. The dispensation of equality expresses the truth that all are responsible to God and one race is not held up over the others. We are called to respond to Christ Jesus on an equal operating field, Ephesians 2:14-22; 3:6; Colossians 1:27; Romans 10;11-13.
4. The name which the Apostle Paul use was the dispensation of the Grace of God, Ephesians 3:2. The context of the passage in Ephesians encompasses all the thought which the others describe.

D. The historical events which took place after the coming of the Holy Spirit are as follows: the offer given to the Nation of Israel to repent as a nation, Act 3, the Nation’s rejection as the ordained nation, Acts 4 - 7 and then with their final rejection with the stoning of Steven and then instead of going into the 70th week of Daniel, the judgment prophesied in the Old Testament, you see it postponed with the insertion of the mystery dispensation which begins the transition, (one program temporally ending and a new one beginning).

The transition begins were Israel losing their stewardship temporally as the dispensing Nation of the New Covenant and temporally losing their privileged position.  This brings the historical shift from the Nation of Israel to the mystery dispensation, parentheses age, or the Dispensation of Grace into operation. The transition into this dispensation comes historically with the saving of Saul in, Acts 9. His name is also changed to Paul by God. Paul is ordained by God to be the apostle of this dispensation.  

1. It was given to Peter in a vision by our Lord in, Acts 10 and the salvation of Cornelius.
2. Confirmed as God's program to all apostles at Jerusalem, Acts 15.
3. Implemented to the Gentile world by the Apostle Paul, Acts 13:45-49; Eph. 2,3. (note many of the events were overlapping each other between, Acts 8-12.
4. Then explained to Paul by direct revelation from the Lord, Gal. 1:11-2:10 and written by Paul in his twelve book in the Bible (Galatians trough Titus).

E. The Church today (the called out assembly) is called the Body of Christ (equality of all based on the cross and the finished work of Christ or New Covenant). Every believer today has the responsible to carry out the operational functioning of God's program, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. Believers are to express out verbally the message of salvation to mankind and live reconciled to God through Christ Jesus our Lord, 2 Corinthians 5:18-22. The Church the Body of Christ is God's ordained instrument today which is to carrying out this dispensation through a local church as individuals united by the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 4:4-16, Romans 1:16; 10:14, 15.

Two Notes:
Daniel's prophecy says that there would be an interval between the sixty-ninth week and seventieth, 9:26. Daniel's prophecy also lets Israel know of the conditions which they would be living under as God's chosen people, Dan. 9:26-27 but does not reveal the mystery as given through Paul.

Peter's profession and our Lord's response, Matt. 16:18 that a church would be established against which the gates of Hell will not prevail also does not reveal this dispensation as found after the Nations rejection of responsibility. Also, in the Lord's earthly ministry He presented the church (the universal called out assembly) in mystery form in the parables of, Matt. 13 and the Lord's prophecies also telling of the Nation of Israel's problems which Daniel prophesied in the Old Testament, Dan. 9:26; Matt 24; Mk. 13; Lk. 22 but does not disclose the mystery as found after, Acts 7, prophecy tell God's love for Gentiles but the mystery shows equality with the Jews a new ordain institution.

II. The Local Church as an organization is made up of saved members who have been water baptized by immersion for public identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection, Acts 2:41; Rom. 6:1- 4, Eph. 4:5.

A. The purpose of the Local Church is:

• To carry out the principles and precepts of God's Word, Acts 16:5.
• It is for the gathering of believers to encourage one another, Heb. 10:25, for the edification of believers, Eph. 4:12-16.
• It exists for the observing of baptism and the Lord's supper, I Cor. 11:23-26; Acts 2:41-47, Eph. 4:5, for worship and praise, Acts 2:47.
• The preaching of the Word of God is commanded by God, Rom. 10:12-15; I Cor. 1:18; II Tim. 3:16-17; I Tim. 5:17; Eph. 4:11.

B. For a local church to exist there must be the functional offices of Elder and Deacon.

Elder, Pastor or Bishop refer to the same person. Tit. 1:5-7 uses Elder in verse 5 and Bishop (or overseer NIV.) in verse 7; also in
Acts 20:28 Paul addresses the elders of Ephesus, Ac. 20:17 and admonishes them to feed or to pastor the Church of God, Acts 20:28. He also points out that they are overseers or bishop (the same word).

C. The qualifications of the bishop are found in I Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9; Acts 20:28; Eph. 4:11; I Pet. 5:1-4.

a. Overseer, Acts. 20:28; Phil. 1:1.
b. Shepherd, the flock, Acts 20:28. ,
c. Feed the flock, I Pet. 5:1-4.
d. Preach the Word, II Tim. 4:2.
e. Leads in spiritual matters, I Tim. 4:1-6.
f. Example to the flock, I Peter 5:3.
g. Do the work of an Evangelist in the absence of one, 2 Tim. 4:5.

D. Deacon qualifications are found in, I Tim. 3:1-13; Acts 6:1-8:

1. They must be qualified to hold the office, I Tim. 3:8-13.
2. Their duties are to serve the saints and help the Bishop, Acts 6:1-8.
3. Their duties include spiritual responsibilities, Acts 6:5,8 cf. 8:5.

III. The local church's head is Christ, Eph. 5:23 and the authority of the church are the Scriptures, 2 Tim. 3:10-17. Where God's will is not specified in the Word, the membership of the Church has authority to make decisions as they submit and follow the Spirit's guidance, Rom. 13. The church must meet the needs of its members, Acts 4:32-5:11; James 2:14-26 exercise loving discipline, I Cor. 5 cf. II Cor. 2:5-11; I Cor. 13 and be separate from all that is contrary to Scriptural truth, II Cor. 6:14-7:1.

The local church follows a congregational form of government. The authority resides in the membership to:

1. Appoint officers, Acts 14:23; 6:1-8,
2. Send missionaries, Acts 13:1-4,
3. Discipline, 1 Cor. 5:1-13,
4. Judge between brothers and sisters, 1 Cor. 6:1-8.

IV. The mission of the church is to reach the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 and make disciples according to the teachings stated above. The believers are to be representatives of Jesus Christ wherever or whatever their "niche" of life, II Cor. 5:11-21 telling of the message of reconciliation. The citizenship of the believer is heaven, Phil. 3:20.

Cooperation without the sacrifice of Biblical standards is required of all believers and separation is necessary when Biblical standards are at stake.

A. Cooperation:

1. Common work, Rom. 15:26; Gal. 2:10; III John 6-8,
2. Advance mutual interests, II Cor. 1:1,
3. Help in advice, Acts 15,
4. Help through finances, II Cor. 8:1-6,
5. Promote good government, Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1.

B. Separation necessary when issues of God is in question:

1. Between church and state, Acts 5:27-29; 4:8-22,
2. From individuals or movements characterized by unbelief and apostasy, 2 Cor. 6:14-16,
3. From brothers who walk disorderly, 2 Thess. 3:6, I John 5:16,17,
4. From the world, 1 John 2:15-17,
5. From false teachers, 2 John 7-10.

Characteristics that have been identified as true Christian Distinctives:

• B. Born again membership,
• A. Autonomy of the local church,
• P. Priesthood of believers,
• T. Two church offices,
• I. Independent local church,
• S. Separation of church and state,
• T. Two ordinances,
• S. Security of the believers.

V. The dispensational interpretation of the Scriptures is not a movement. It is important for a clear understanding of the Word of God! Dispensational interpretation is the answer to those who call themselves fundamentalists and Evangelicals who do not handle the Word of God correctly. Dispensational understanding is for those who mix God's program for today with other programs from the past and the future millennial programs. The dispensational approach to the Biblical is not a movement or a disease but, it is the study of the administrations of God through history and identifies them.

Though God never changes, He has changed His method of dealing and operation with mankind from one dispensation to another. Salvation has always been by God's grace and effected by man's faith in Jesus Christ; the Old Testament saints looking forward to Christ and New Testament saints look back to the cross. However, there are differences in the responsibility the people were to live at various points in human history. God has demonstrated by the different dispensations the absolute failure of man to meet His required standard apart from His grace. 

1.There are seven dispensations, possibly:

1. Innocence, Gen. 1:28,
2. Conscience or Moral Responsibility, Gen. 3:7,
3. Human Government, Gen. 8:15,
4. Promise, Gen. 12:1 the chosen family - Israel,
5. Grace, or Equality, or the Church His Body, Acts 9-13; 16:5-16; Eph. 3:2,3; Eph. 5:23,
6. Earthly Kingdom, Rev. 20:4,
7. Eternal, Eph. 1:10 Fullness of Time, Eph. 1:10 or Eternal Kingdom after the 1000 years, or at the Marriage Feast of the Lamb, Rev. 19:9.

2. There are 7 governing principles which make a dispensation - marking off the differences and the changes and the discovery of the eternal and principles which do not change. The following 7 guiding principles are to be seen and are to be applied in dispensational teaching:

1.   Each dispensation has a beginning with governing rules and principles
2.   Universal Principle which Transcend all dispensations
3.   Rule Which Change from One dispensation to another
4.   The Institution chosen and responsible to carry out God’s dispensation
5.   The Sin of the dispensation which brings the final judgment of God on the dispensation
6.   The Judgment and consequence on the world
7.   The Transition from one dispensation to the next dispensation

The church is not to be viewed as the same as the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven.

3. The Kingdom of God is:

1. The sphere or realm in which the sovereignty of God is acknowledge and His will obeyed,
2. This includes all of God's redeemed and all of God's angels.

4. The Kingdom of Heaven:

1. Relates to the offer of the earthly kingdom to Israel,
2. The reign of Christ in the Millennium and
3. The eternal fulfillment after the Millennium
4. The coming together of Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven in the Dispensation of the Fullness of Time, Eph. 1:10.

( The church, the Body of Christ, refers to the dispensation of God which started at with Israel's rejection and ends with the Rapture.)

The rapture of the Church ends this dispensation where as the Second Coming relates to the earthly position when Jesus Christ touches the earth ending the Dispensation of promise and the beginning of the dispensation of the Kingdom.