Organization of the Church - Part 1
By Allan E. McNabb

The Lord organized the church with Jesus as head, apostles, prophets, elders, deacons, evangelists, teachers, and members (saints).

Importance
God has organized His church in a specific way, by which we must be organized to be a congregation of Christ’s church (2 Jn. 1:9; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).

• Phil. 3:17  We must walk according to the apostolic pattern.
• 1 Cor. 4:16  We must imitate the apostles.
• 2 Th. 2:15  We must keep the apostolic traditions revealed in God’s word.
• Tit. 1:5; 1 Cor. 14:40  The church (assembly) must be orderly.
• 1 Cor. 11:34  If it’s not orderly, we bring judgment upon ourselves.
• Mk. 7:6-9  If we are not organized as God ordains, our worship is vain.
• Gal. 6:2  We must be organized according to Christ’s law (1 Cor. 9:21; Col. 3:17).

John says, “Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son” (2 Jn. 1:9).
A congregation of Jesus’ church is organized as God commands in His word.

Christ is the Head
Speaking of Jesus, Paul says, “He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything” (Col. 1:18).

Since Jesus is head of the church:

• Matt. 28:18-20  He has all authority.
• Eph. 5:22-24  We are subject to Him in everything — individually, and as a church.
• Heb. 5:9 We must obey Him.
• 2 Jn. 1:9  We must abide in His teaching (doctrine).

A church that obeys Jesus, is organized as He commands.

Apostles
Speaking of Jesus, Paul says, “And He gave some as apostles. . . .” (Eph. 4:11).

The word “apostle” literally means one sent forth.  In the Bible, it’s used two ways:

• In a general sense it denotes a messenger (e.g., Jesus, Titus, and Barnabas).
• In a specific sense it denotes an apostle appointed by Jesus to have authority in the church (e.g., Peter, Andrew, James, John, Matthias, and Paul).

Qualifications of Apostles
There are specific qualifications that must be met before one can be an apostle (i.e., one appointed by Jesus to have authority in the church).  It’s important to note that no one today can meet these qualifications.

• Matt. 28:18-20; Gal. 1:1  He must be ordained by Jesus.
• Acts 1:21-22  He must be an eye witness of Jesus beginning with the baptism of John, and a witness of His resurrection.
• 2 Cor. 12:11-12; Rom. 15:18-19 As an apostle, he must possess miraculous power and performs signs of apostleship.
• Acts 8:17-19  As an apostle, he must impart miraculous power to people by laying on of hands.

Paul was the last person qualified and appointed as an apostle.  No  apostles were appointed after him; therefore, no apostles are upon earth today.

• 1 Cor. 15:5-8  Jesus appeared last of all to Paul; therefore, he was the last man qualified and appointed to become an apostle (1 Cor. 9:1-2).

Work of Apostles
The apostles were ambassadors of Christ (2 Cor. 5:20), acting on His behalf and in His stead.

• Matt. 28:18-20  They were commissioned by Jesus to preach, convert, and teach.
• 1 Jn. 1:1-7  When we have fellowship with the apostles through their doctrine, we have fellowship with Christ and God.

The apostles testified of Jesus, as witnesses of His life and resurrection (Jn. 15:26-27; Acts 1:6-8).

The apostles preached the gospel (Mk. 16:15-16).

• Matt. 16:19  They communicated the word, the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2).
• Jn. 16:7-11  They convicted the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
• 2 Cor. 3:2-6  They were ministers of the new covenant.
• Eph. 2:19-22  They are the foundation of the church, with Christ.

False Apostles
Paul was afraid the Corinthians would be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ, by people preaching another Jesus (gospel) whom he had not preached (2 Cor. 11:3-4).  One way they could be led astray was by false apostles (2 Cor. 11:13).

Speaking of false apostles, Paul says they are “deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.  No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.  Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds” (2 Cor. 11:13-15).

Today, there are men who call themselves apostles, just as in the first century; and we are obligated to test them (Rev. 2:2).  Fortunately, it’s easy to test these men, since no one is qualified to be an apostle today.  Everyone who claims to be an apostle of Christ is a false apostle.