The Governing of God in His Church
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Q3. Why did God include those whom he called with Jesus Christ?
Q4. How many churches is headed by Jesus Christ?
Q8. Why does the church not belong to Christ, despite Him being the head?
Q9. Is there any proof that the Lord Jesus, through Him, God is in charge of the church?
Q10. As a testimony, that the church belongs to God, did he organize and build it?
Q11. Through his Son, Jesus Christ, does this mean that God built the Church?
Q13. What role did the Son have in building the church of God?
Q14. As Spokesman, what is God's plan that the Son has spoken of?
Q15. Who is the rock that is being referred to where the Church of God stands? Is it Peter?
Q18. Did Christ prove that the Father really was talking to Peter at those moments?
Q20. Why did he not leave a successor in the church, when he ascended to heaven?
Q21. Was there an event that shows the apostles succeeded Christ to lead the Church?
Q22. What kind of leadership does the Apostle Peter teach the elders in the church?
Q23. Who is the Head Pastor of the elders who are in charge of their care?
Q26. Who will be deceived and be mislead by those who proclaim they are Christ on these last days?
Q28. As Christ the Son of God, what honor did God the Father give to Him?
Q1. Who own the Church?
A. God the Father and his Son Christ Jesus.
“Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.” (1 Thes. 1:1) (NIV)
Q2. What is the Church?
A. A fellowship of those called by God joined together in Christ Jesus.
“God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Cor. 1:9) (NIV)
Q3. Why did God include those whom he called with Jesus Christ?
A. To head over all things in the church.
“he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,” (Eph. 1:20) (NIV)
“22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” (Eph. 1:22-23) (NIV)
Q4. How many churches is headed by Jesus Christ?
A. There is only one church.
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;” (Eph. 4:4) (NIV)
“And he is the head of the body, the church;…” (Col. 1:18) (NIV)
Q5. How many teachings of faith and baptism is there in the church of God whose leader is Jesus Christ?
A. “5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Eph. 4:5-6) (NIV)
Q6. For Christ is the Head of the body and the church that is the Church of God, then what is His responsibility of the church?
A. It is his responsibility to save the church as he is the Head.
“For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.” (Eph. 5:23) (NIV)
Q7. As head of the body or church, does it mean that it is owned by Christ, and God the Father has no part in it?
A. God owns the church, with Christ as the head of it.
“13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (Eph. 1:13-14) (NIV)
Explanation: The church is God's own possession because:
(1) God built the church, which he proposed even before. (Amos 9:11-12; Acts 15:14-18; Mat. 16:18)
(2) God built it upon His Son, that symbolizes a cornerstone, a living stone; which he designed even before. (1 Pet. 2:4-9; Isa. 28:16; Psa. 118:22; Isa. 8:14)
(3) God calls people to join and remain with Christ. (1 Cor. 1:9)
(4)God placed everything in the church; from the apostles. (1 Cor. 12:28) to members.
(5) The ultimate head of the church, from Christ to its members of men and women (1 Cor. 11:3) belong to God.
(6) And God put Christ in order to be the head of all things in the church. (Eph. 1:22)
Q8. Why does the church not belong to Christ, despite Him being the head?
A. For those reasons mentioned above.
Q9. Is there any proof that the Lord Jesus, through Him, God is in charge of the church?
A. “37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.” (Jn. 6:37-38) (NIV)
“39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.” (Jn. 6:39) (NIV)
Q10. As a testimony, that the church belongs to God, did he organize and builD it?
A. God organized and put every element to the body or church.
“But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.” (1 Cor. 12:18) (NIV)
“And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.” (1 Cor. 12:28) (NIV)
Q11. Through his Son, Jesus Christ, does this mean that God built the Church?
A. He built the Church.
“14 Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: 16 “‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, 17 that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things’—18 things known from long ago. (Acts 15:14-18) (NIV)
Notice that the Lord speaking here is not the Lord Jesus, but the Lord God the Father of the Lord Jesus. Because Bible speaks of two Lords, one is the Father and another is the Son. (Acts 2:34-35) And the Lord cited in Acts 15: 14-18 is the Lord stated at Amos 9: 11-12, quoted by the apostles when the fulfillment of the prophecy of the prophet Amos has already been fulfilled.
Q12. Did God the Father build his church on earth or did He have someone else to build it in His name?
A. His Son, Jesus Christ, descended to earth to do His will.
“38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.” (Jn. 6:38) (NIV)
Q13. What role did the Son have in building the church of God?
A. The Father built the church of God thru the Son.
“1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” (Heb. 1:1-2) (NIV)
(a)Christ proved it.
“For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.” (Jn. 12:49) (NIV)
(b) This is the first thing that was spoken through Moses.
“18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. 19 I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name.” (Deut. 18:18-19) (NIV)
Q14. As Spokesman, what is God's plan that the Son has spoken of?
A. The building of the church.
“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Mat. 16:18) (NIV)
Q15. Who is the rock that is being referred to where the Church of God stands? Is it Peter?
A. It is not Peter, but the Lord Jesus.
“4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet. 2:4-5) (NIV)
Q16. How strong is this testimony of the Apostle Peter, that Christ is the rock that God has set for his church?
A. "And I say also to thee, thou art Peter," said the Father by the mouth of the Speaker of the Father that is Christ.
"And upon this rock," that is Christ who was with the Apostle Peter at those times.
"I will build my church." The Church of God is referred to as being built by the speaker, Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Peter was the witness of God's building of his church with Christ as the stone that would not be overcome by the gates of the hades. The gates of hades are the sins, which never prevailed in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, because Christ overcomes any sin. (2 Cor. 5:21)
Q17. It is stated in Romans 6:23, that “For the wages of sin is death”, but why did Christ die when he had not sinned?
A. For he has taken away the sins of the people.
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21) (NIV)
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8) (NIV)
Q18. Did Christ prove that the Father really was talking to Peter at those moments?
A. Christ did prove this.
“15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” (Mat. 16:15-17) (NIV)
Notice, that in the very lips of the Lord Jesus came the proof that the Father in heaven revealed to Peter, who is the Son of man. The divine wisdom hidden in this scene is the Father's continuing proclamation to Peter, by the mouth of the Lord Jesus, saying, "Upon this rock," that the Father God speaks of Christ, who was beside Peter at that moment; "I will build my church."
In fact, the Father will build his church with his Son, Jesus Christ. The Apostle Peter was the witness of this.
Although, there are sects who replaced Christ with Peter whom they believe is the rock that the church is built on, the fact is that Christ Jesus is "the chief cornerstone, a chosen one and anyone who believes in Him will never be disappointed.” (1 Pet. 2:4-6)
Likewise, though others have changed Christ to God the Father, who is the one who built the church, the word of the true God is truth (John 17:17), which is by the mouth of the prophet Amos (Amos 9: 11-12), which is repeatedly written that "Lord" (the Father is referred to) will build the tabernacle of David, which is the church's emblem on the last day.
Q19. Because the Lord Jesus was the Head of all things in the church, did he have a successor to be the head of the church?
A. He did not leave a successor, but he has sent many to fulfill his earthly mission: preach to the world and rule the church.
(a)Preach to the whole world.
“18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Mat. 28:18-19) (NIV)
(b)And they will administer the church.
“and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mat. 28:20) (NIV)
Q20. Why did he not leave a successor in the church, when he ascended to heaven?
A. For there is a priesthood that cannot be changed.
“but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.” (Heb. 7:24) (NIV)
(a)Head of the house of God.
“20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,” (Heb. 10:20-21) (NIV)
(b)The house of God is the Church of God.
“if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” (1 Tim. 3:15) (NIV)
Q21. Was there an event that shows the apostles succeeded Christ to lead the Church?
A. There is. The Council of Apostles and Council of Elders in Jerusalem.
“22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. 23 With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings.” (Acts 15:22-23) (NIV)
(a)Placing Elders in every church.
“Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” (Acts 14:23) (NIV)
(b)Elected elders in every town.
“The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.” (Titus 1:5) (NIV)
(c)Elders who righteously rule.
“The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.” (1 Tim. 5:17) (NIV)
Q22. What kind of leadership does the Apostle Peter teach the elders in the church?
A. “1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. “ (1 Pet. 5:1-3) (NIV)
Q23. Who is the Head Pastor of the elders who are in charge of their care?
A. Lord Jesus Christ, the Head Priest who is permanent.
“And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” (1 Pet. 5:4) (NIV)
“… Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Pet. 2:25) (NIV)
Q24. As the Head of the Church of God, what is the power and responsibility of the Lord Jesus, that those who take away his place in the church cannot duplicate?
A. To save and give eternal life to the church.
“For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.” (Eph. 5:23) (NIV)
““Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” (Jn. 5:24) (NIV)
Q25. What did the Lord Jesus say about the leaders of the Christian sect, who sits on his throne as head of the church?
A. They will deceive many.
“4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.” (Mat. 24:4-5) (NIV)
Surely, many have emerged these last days claiming that they possess the qualities of Jesus Christ. Some even claim that he is the "alternate Christ" here on earth. As successor, he claims all of Christ’s attributes including infallibility, which is solely Christ’s. Others claim that they are - every one of them - is God's messenger in the last days. Such gestures, in plain words, are a reflection of the fulfillment of the words of the great prophet on the last day: "Many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. "
Q26. Who will be deceived and be mislead by those who proclaim they are Christ on these last days?
A. Those who have been blinded by the god of this world.
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Cor. 4:4) (NIV)
Q27. The true members of the Church of God (sanctified) in Christ Jesus, how did they hold up for their standing in Christ Jesus?
A. Be rooted and stand with Jesus Christ.
“6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Col. 2:6-7) (NIV)
Q28. As Christ the Son of God, what honor did God the Father give to Him?
A. The entire judgement was granted to the Son.
(a) “22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.”(Jn. 5:22-23) (NIV)
(b) “9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philip. 2:9-11) (NIV)
(c) “10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12) (NIV)
““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mat. 5:3) (NIV)
How blessed are the humble, whose happiness is the submission to the head who is Christ in the Church of God. Not so blessed then, those who are subject to man who pretends to be Christ on earth and proclaim they are the messenger in the last days.
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