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Characteristics of a Local Church 1 Thess. 1:1

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Characteristics of a Local Church 1 Thess. 1:1 Characteristics of a Local Church 1 Thess. 1:1 4 Characteristics: 1. A group of people in Christ 1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ : Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. From man’s side: people who are saved and baptized as believers by immersion. From God’s side: 1 John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. 2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Romans 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body , whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit . Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Colossians 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus , who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ , and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ , he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 1 Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him , that we may be also glorified together. II. A group of people at Thessalonica…+ 1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. The local church is always…wait for it…local! We are part of the universal church all believers baptized into one body from Pentecost till the Rapture. We are also part of the broader family of God / Peoples of God Israel & the nation from the OT era and Tribulation and beyond. However , the local church is always…local! At Philippi, Thessalonica, Athens, Rome, Waukegan, Genoa City,…! It consists of: 1. A location Every local church has a…wait for it…location! There are no “location-less” local churches! 2. People I’m never going to that church – it’s full of hypocrites! Hypocrites = People who do not live up to their ideas & ideals? 100% = People who struggle to live up to their ideas & ideals? Nearly 100% = Fakes? Very small % Then there is the bad news – local churches are full of…not hypocrites but people! And, people are weird! III. A group of people under authority 1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul , and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. “No one is going to tell me what to preach!” The local church has always been under authority! Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Acts 1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: Acts 1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets , Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone ; Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word , or our epistle . Authority in the 1 st century: Written OT Written OT + spoken Written OT + spoken + written NT Written OT & NT = Scripture What is the authority at LCBC? 1. Biblical authority, New Testament Priority 2. Our Full Doctrinal Statement IV. A group of people with needs & with resources 1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace , which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. .
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