Ecclesiology
A Study of the N.T Church
General Outline
08/21/2005
West End Church of Christ
Bro. Orpheus Heyward

Unless otherwise indicated all Scriptures are taken from the King James Version

1. Introduction

The New Testament Church is a vital subject that is essential to the overall scheme of redemption. The Church is commonly a misunderstood subject, in which some believe it is totally irrelevant, while others take the position that it was an afterthought that resulted from the Jews rejection of the Kingdom (premillenialism). It is therefore essential that we study the church to understand the biblical view of this divine institution. This study is designed to convey the understanding that the Church is God’s plan to save man.

• Definition of the term church
• ekklesia – a called out assembly
• Used in two senses in reference to the Lord’s Church
• Universal usage: Matthew 16:18 – Refers to all the saved in every geographical location
• Local usage: Romans 16:16, 1 Thess 2:13-14:

Refers to the varied congregations of the One Church

• The New Testament Church-God’s plan of salvation from the foundation of the World
• The Mystery of God – His plan that was unknown until made known
• Mystery Defined: That which is hidden, or not fully manifested.
• Romans 16:25-27
• A hidden planned
• Now revealed
• Demands obedience
• Protected by God
• 1 Cor 2:6-8
• Revealed through the Apostles
• Ephesians 1:9-11 – To sum up all things under the authority of Christ
• Ephesians 3:1-6 – The uniting of Jew and Gentile into one Body by the Gospel (emphasis on v. 4)

This is the outline from the lesson that we studied. In order to get the full benefit from the class, you really need to be there. For more information about West End Church of Christ, please visit the website at www.thewestender.com

Anthropology
"The Study of Man"
By Bro. Brian Clark

I. Man's Beginnings

The first mention of man is in Genesis 1: 26
"God said, Let us make man in"Our image, after Our likeness.."

- This is significant because man is not "arbitrarily made," he is made in the "Spiritual likeness of God"

-Likeness which means resemblance or representative"
-Secondly man is also made in God's "image"

-_____________________ or "Manner" or "Similtude" (I didn't catch this part, he was talking too fast) If anyone knows what goes in that blank, could you put it in the comments portion? thanks.

-Man was made in the "image" and the "likeness" of God, this means; Man could not be made a "sinner."

Ecclesiastes 7:29 says:
"Lo this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions."

-The word "Upright" comes from the Hebrew word "yashar" whic means, "righteous".

-So we see that "Man" was created in the "Image" and "Likeness" of God, and man was created "Righteous." This fact must be remembered when dealing with "original sin."

Man was made "Righteous" but through "Free-will" man decided to give in to the "_______"of Satan and sin. (This is another one I missed during class)

-Turn to Psalm 51:5
-Turn to Psalm 14:2,3
-Turn to Romans 3:10-12; 23

-As we see indicated these Scriptures would conlude that "All men" are sinners, but the questionis, "How did All Men become sinners?"

-Was it by "___________"(Nature) or "__________"(Nurture)? I think the answer is nurture…(according to the other scriptures given above)

-Romans 5:12 says;
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."

-A few things to note:
1. Death entered through Adam
2. "Death By sin…" which indicates that "death" was directly correlated to "Sin."
3. Death therefore "passed" or spread because of the influence of sin."
4. "For all men have sinned." This would indicate that "sinful influence" has affected those who are____________.(I didn't catch the answer to this one either)
5. Sin is defined as "transgression of the law" 1 John 3:4 This would mean we have to conlucde a few things:

-This would exclude babies, who in order to sin would have to be cognizant of sin or influenced of sin and thus "transgress the law."

- To further support this thought, Romans 5:14 says;
"Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come."

-Since "sin" is a transgression of the law, how is one "influenced" to sin?

James 1:13-15 gives us the blueprint of sin;

"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

- First we see in this passage that God cannot tempt or be tempted with evil
-That means if God doesn't tempt, who is the "tempter?" The answer of course is "Satan" by his "influence."

-The Bible also states that "man" is tempted, when or (whenever) he is "drawn away" or "enticed" of "his own" (the Greek word–Idios: pertaining to self; also means private or separate)lust(strong desire) and enticed(or entrapped)

This is only a synopsis of the lesson. If you want to get the full lesson, you need to attend bible class. The schedule is available at www.thewestender.com