for a local church
Although God saved us individually, one of the blessings and responsibilities He has given us is fellowship with other Christians. This assembly of Christians would meet on a regular basis for many activities, such as breaking bread (communion), worship, prayer, studying God's word, and spreading the gospel. However, this assembly is not just a loosely knit group of Christians who decide to get together for some singing, preaching and coffee.
God's Spirit gathers us together around one object: the person of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 18:20, Jesus promises, "Where two or three are gathered together [by an outside influence -- the Spirit of God] in my name, there am I in the midst of them." According to 1 Corinthians 3:9, "you are God's building." A New Testament assembly is the local expression of an organism that God has formed with Christ as its head.
"And He [Jesus] is the head of the body, the church, ... that in all things HE might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in HIM should all fulness dwell." Colossians 1:18,19
Because God has made the Lord Jesus Christ the head of His church, there is no room for a mere man to take this leading place, on earth or in heaven.
But what
about the teaching and shepherding of the congregation?
I Corinthians 12 shows very plainly that
every member of the "body" (every Christian)
has a function that the Spirit of God has given him or
her to profit the other believers with. Chapter 14 of the
same book gives guidelines for how these functions, or
gifts, are to be used by all in an orderly manner
"that all may learn, and all may be comforted."
(verse 31)
God has also set up a group of elders, or shepherds, to watch over each flock and be responsible for guarding against wrong doctrines, counseling and encouraging young believers, and carrying out discipline, such as in I Cor. 5.
There is an "inside" and an
"outside" to a local assembly.
In order for a person to be put away from a
local church, as in I Cor. 5:13, there must be that
distinction between those in the fellowship and those
outside. This feature also gives protection to the
believers from wrong doctrines spread by people coming in
and teaching without anyone knowing what they believe, or
if they are even truly saved. In Acts 9:26, we read of
the apostle Paul desiring to fellowship with the
disciples at Jerusalem soon after he was saved. Because
of their concerns about his past life, they had to
"interview" him before they allowed him to join
himself with them.
