by Gene Krachenfels
We all learn as we go and I am sure each of us have benefited from life lessons worth passing on to others. Many years ago, I had the privilege of serving under the leadership of Dr. James W. Crumpton while with the West Side Baptist Church and Maranatha Baptist Mission in Natchez, Mississippi. One of the most helpful things I learned from him was his description of a New Testament Church. This article is intended to summarize what the Bible says about this subject.
There are many religious organizations calling themselves a church but what does the Bible have to say about this matter? Dr. Crumpton used the following definition to answer the question, “What is a New Testament Church?”
“A church is a body of saved, baptized believers, voluntarily banded together for the purpose of worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ, propagating the Gospel, and edifying the Saints.”
This definition is made up of three phrases with each phrase containing three parts.
1. A Church Is A Body Of Saved, Baptized Believers.
Body of Believers. A person’s idea of a church may be based upon a number of viewpoints. Some believe a church to be little more than a religious entity. Others see a church as a building or place where religious services are conducted. While another group may expect a church to be a social or political organization responsible for the community in which it is located.
However, God’s description of a church involves much more than this. Scripture gives us a three-fold description of the Lord’s relationship between Himself and His Church.
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- Christ is the Head and the Church His Body.
- Christ is the Bridegroom and the Church is His Bride.
- Christ is the Chief Cornerstone and Foundation and the Church is the Building.
This depicts the Church’s unbreakable relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. For the sake of this topic we are only considering the first of the three. The church, among other things, is a body, a living organism.
Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
This concept is not new to us because we often use the word body to describe a group of persons with a unifying common interest or purpose such as a legislative or student body. A New Testament church is not a dead organization but is alive in Christ, dependent upon Him, and inseparable from Him.
Saved Believers. This phrase, on the surface may seem to be redundant however, the concept of belief, who or what someone believes in, and the extent to which they believe vary greatly. However, the Bible indicates a New Testament church is comprised of born again believers. This distinguishes a church from every other public or private organization in the world. One does not obtain membership in a church simply because it appeals to them or because they like the minister, congregation, location, or some other reason. No, God’s church is for God’s people. When someone is saved, born again, washed in the blood, redeemed, or made a new creature in Christ they become a part of the family of God and He expects His children to unite with the only institution He has ordained for the purpose of their gathering together.
Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Baptized Believers. New Testament church membership is not only a privilege for the redeemed but is limited to those who have obediently followed the Lord in Believer’s Baptism. There are numerous views as to which is the correct mode of baptism but we believe the Scripture clearly indicates immersion to be God’s choice as it depicts the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the believer’s new life in Him.
Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
2. A Church Is Voluntarily Banded Together.
A Voluntary Collection of Believers. While the gift of salvation is available to “whosoever will” it cannot be forced upon anyone. Nor should someone be coerced to join a New Testament church no matter how sincere the intent. Throughout the ages, God has freely offered His message of hope and forgiveness to anyone willing to accept His gracious invitation. Just as a sinner willing accepts Christ as his or her Savior, so that saint willing chooses to unite with the local church of God’s leading.
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
A Strong Collection of Believers. When Christians band together as fellow members of a New Testament church they form a bond which is foreign to the world because it is based solely upon love. This bond begins with God’s love for the world, is manifest through Christ’s love for us, and is demonstrated by our love for one another.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
I John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
This collection of saints crosses all national, ethnic, social, economic, and educational boundaries. It is accomplished through the formation of a unique family of believers void of any bias that would hinder the unity God expects to exist in His assembly. It is not uncommon to find the ties between such church members stronger than the familial ties of one’s birth family. This truth is also evident when the fellowship of believers from New Testament churches in different communities or even different countries, upon meeting for the first time, can exist as though they have known each other for years. We are both brethren and co-laborers within the same heavenly family.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
A United Collection of Believers. It is God’s plan for every local assembly to reflect our future home in Heaven. For this to occur, God’s children must learn to commune, work, and worship together as the family He intends us to be. As one body in Christ, a unified group of saints can and should experience a prelude to “Heaven on earth.”
I Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
This unity is the direct result of a congregation comprised of likeminded believers who share not only a common faith but a common goal. Harmony such as this is the outgrowth of sound, Biblical preaching and teaching as to the role and responsibility of church members and their proper response to Holy Writ. God makes no allowance for division and disharmony in a New Testament church and demands it be eliminated from the ranks of the church’s membership.
Romans 15:5, 6 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 4:2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
3. For The Purpose Of Worshipping The Lord Jesus Christ, Propagating The Gospel, And Edifying The Saints.
Believers Who Worship. New Testament churches, like any organization, have a specific purpose for existing. What makes a church so unique is the basis of our gathering is to worship God. A local assembly meeting for any purpose other than to worship God fails in their primary obligation to Him.
John 4:23, 24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
As believers, we exist because of Him. He is our light, our life, our strength, and much more. We can never repay the debt of love He paid on our behalf but we can give our lives in devotion to Him. This begins with our daily worship of Him throughout our private lives and continues with our weekly public worship with those of like precious faith.
Romans 12:1, 2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Believers Who Witness. One of the greatest commands the Lord gave us is what we call “The Great Commission.” This is the task of getting the gospel of Jesus Christ to all people throughout the world. This command wasn’t given to Bible Colleges, Mission Agencies, Evangelistic Associations, Hospitals, Orphanages, Christian Businessmen’s Organizations, or any other group apart from the local church. The acceptance of the responsibility associated with this task is a telltale mark of a New Testament church. The primary role of a believer is to glorify God and a close second is to make the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ known to others. This endeavor is to be undertaken, without exception, by every New Testament church; large or small, rich or poor and it is to be accomplished both at home and abroad simultaneously. That we may know how to go about doing so, the resurrected Christ issued a different aspect of The Great Commission in each of the gospels and in the Book of Acts.
The Model John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
The Messengers Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
The Message Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
The Method Matthew 28:19, 20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The Means Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Believers Who Work. Another mark of a New Testament church is the work accomplished in and applied to the hearts and lives of every person who is a part of its membership. It would be of little use to attend church week after week and not benefit from the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. A good pastor and faithful undershepherd of the Lord Jesus Christ will give himself to prayer and study of the Word that he might be right with God and well prepared to break the bread of life to his congregation. Thus the cycle of growth is set in motion; God directs the pastor, the pastor delivers the Lord’s message to the congregation, each saint upon hearing the Word applies it to his or her life, and in turn pass what they have learned on to others that each one may grow thereby.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
II Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
It is our firm conviction putting the word “Church” on a building doesn’t make it one. Nor do we believe linking the word “Church” with a denomination, association, organization, or individual assembly void of what the Scripture describes constitutes a New Testament church. By His design, God has always intended a New Testament church be different from every other organization on the face of the planet. Any entity calling itself a church yet failing to satisfy God’s qualifications for one is fraudulent in its claim and will, in His time, be exposed as such.
Much more could be added to further explain what a church is but we trust this brief overview has been of help to you.
“A church is a body of saved, baptized believers, voluntarily banded together for the purpose of worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ, propagating the Gospel, and edifying the Saints.”
