Chapter 23 - New Testament Church

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God conceived, created and completed the New Testament church in eternity before the foundation of the world. (cf. Hebrews 4:3) It did not change when it was manifested on earth. Consequently, the New Testament church on earth is characterized by eternal attributes. For example, it is eternal in function and form, purpose and mission, emphasis, covenantal benefit, calling, description, design, headship, body, legality, life, faith, teaching, tradition and destiny.

Function and Form

The function of the New Testament church is to facilitate eternal, shared life fellowship between God and redeemed mankind. As a result, it was provided with the form of an eternal, spiritual body. (John 1:12-13; 3:3-8; 4:24)

Purpose and Mission

For the enjoyment of God and mankind, the purpose of the New Testament church is the practice of eternal, shared life fellowship. The willingness of redeemed mankind to practice fellowship with God not only serves to vindicate the divine nature from angelic challenge but contributes to the repopulation of the divine kingdom.

The corresponding mission of the New Testament church is to cultivate and protect its privilege of eternal, shared life fellowship with God.

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Emphasis

The New Testament church has a singular emphasis; Jesus Christ. He is the “Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:13)

Covenantal Benefit

The New Testament church is critically important to the eternal plan of God. Therefore, it was secured before the foundation of the world by the unconditional benefit of a gracious, redemptive covenant of life (zoe), the Eternal Covenant.

The fundamental benefit of the Eternal Covenant is new law and new life. The new law of the Eternal Covenant is the “law of Christ,” often referred to in this book as the “rule of life. The new life of the Eternal Covenant is life shared with the mediator of the covenant, Jesus Christ.

By gracious benefit of the Eternal Covenant, the New Testament church enjoys heavenly position and privilege beyond compare. Graciously obligated to God by covenantal law and life, it is “blessed … with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 1:3)

Calling

The New Testament church has a dual calling. It was called out from condemnation and wrath and called together into an intimate, shared life community.

Description

The New Testament describes the church by some very distinct concepts and figures. For example, it reveals that it is an eternal, shared life community referred to as a household, body, field, building, temple, bride, pillar, and support of the truth, priesthood, and flock.

Design

The New Testament church was designed as an eternal, living (zoe) entity suitable for animation by the indwelling God. Therefore, rather than characterized by organizational complexity, it is simple and organic.

Headship

Concordant with the new law and new life of the Eternal Covenant, the New Testament church is positioned under the gracious headship of Jesus Christ. By its new covenantal law, it is legally positioned under His representative headship. Through its new covenantal life, the church is organically positioned under His representational headship.

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Body

The body of the New Testament church is comprised of co-equal brothers and sisters united to God and one another by indwelling, eternal life (zoe). It is supported and served by co-equal elders and deacons.

Legality

The co-equal brothers, sisters, elders and deacons of the New Testament church body have been redeemed by the blood of the Eternal Covenant. As a result, they were justified from all sin; past, present and future, and consequently, made legally suitable with the eternal God.

Life

Made legally suitable, the co-equal brothers, sisters, elders and deacons of the New Testament church body were prepared for a relationship of shared life with God. Through the subsequent, divine act of regeneration, they have been made organically compatible with God. By spiritual birth the elect of the New Testament church were joined to God through the impartation of His indwelling, eternal, spiritual life (zoe).

Faith

By grace alone, the life of the New Testament church is not lived by man for God but by God with man. (John 3:16; Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Philippians 2:13; Hebrews 13:21) Humanity is privileged to cooperate with God by faith alone. (Romans 12:3; 14:23; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 2:6-7; Hebrews 11:6)

Teaching and Tradition

The New Testament church is utterly privileged to know Jesus Christ through apostolic teaching and tradition. Generally, He is revealed to the church through apostolic teaching and personally experienced through its practice of apostolic tradition.

Destiny

When the nature of God has been vindicated and His kingdom repopulated to the extent intended, the Church Age will conclude. At its conclusion, the New Testament church will be removed from the earth and transferred into the immediate presence of Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:1-9; Revelation 4:1) “Face to face” with Him, it will forever enjoy unrestricted intimacy with God. It is an eternal destiny filled with glory and joy beyond description.

© 2023 James Hiatt

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