How to recognize a healthy Church?

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:16 – 17

Each of the three members of the Godhead is a person. They have always existed. They are equal in nature, power and knowledge. Yet they are so unified in their essence that they are not three ‘gods’ but one God. (Matthew 28:19; John 1:1, 14:1-17a, 16:7-8; 1 Peter 1:2; Revelation 4-5)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” John 1:1

Not only is Jesus God, He is also man. This can be seen in verse 14a:

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” John 1:14a

This fact about his deity and humanity is clearly stated in Philippians 2:5-8. A church that ignores the fullness of either of these two facts is in error. The denial of these facts is often presented in a less than obvious way and many believers can subscribe to ministries that deny the true deity of Christ. Kenneth Copeland,a word faith preacher for example, believes that Jesus was reborn in hell. In other words, he became God at that point

“a lamb without blemish and without spot”

1 Peter 1:19

And Paul indicated the sinlessness of Christ when he wrote:

“God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”

2 Corinthians 5:21

A church that is correct in its Christology will also believe in the atoning death of Christ. He, the sinless One, died on the cross, spilling His life and blood for sinners (Romans 4:25; 1 Peter 2:24). That is what is meant by His substitutionary death.

A church that is correct in its Christology will also believe that Christ physically arose from the dead. It bases that belief on the Bible:

“He arose again the third day according to the Scriptures”

1 Corinthians 15:4

Having arose, the LORD Jesus Christ now has ascended to heaven with the Father where He reigns over the universe for the good of His people and glory of His Father. From there He shall one day bodily return in judgement. (Ephesians 1:21-23; Philippians 2:9-11)

In highlighting the fact of salvation by grace alone – independent of human effort – this in no way denies the importance of baptism, church attendance and commitment, or living a godly life. These things are vitally important. However, they are not done in order to be saved!

It is received through faith. Church membership, a moral life, or works of charity – good as all these things may be – can do nothing to save people from their sins. Salvation can be experienced only on the basis of what the Lord Jesus Christ did for man as substitute in life and in death. (Romans 5)

As God, the Holy Spirit is involved in a number of important activities. The Spirit of God brings conviction of sin (John 16:8). He imparts the new birth (John 3:5). He baptizes believers into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). He indwells individual Christians (1 Corinthians 6:19). He stirs Christians to holiness (Philippians 2:12-13). He equips believers for effective service (Ephesians 5:18). The Holy Spirit dwells within to comfort, guide, sustain, and strengthen believers, and to bear witness to the truth. Because of His indwelling presence, God’s people can progressively have victory over sin and can successfully serve the Lord.

When we speak of the LOCAL church we refer to visible groupings of Christians regularly meeting together for worship, instruction, fellowship, evangelism, and the observance of the ordinances (eg: Acts 2:41-42; 1 Corinthians 16:19). A good church will recognise the distinction between the LOCAL and the INVISIBLE church. It will not exclude from the body of Christ those believers who are truly in Christ but who do not share their particular denominational tag.

Of course, it is possible for individual believers to make spiritual progress without attending a LOCAL church. You can study, pray and have occasional fellowship with other Christians. But that is not enough! For born-again believers LOCAL church commitment is a necessity not a casual option. All born again believers must find a Bible-believing church, attend it regularly, serve in it, give to it, and pray for it. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

A biblical LOCAL church will have a leadership committed to serving the people and through the preaching and teaching of God’s Word (2 Timothy 4:1-3). Biblical leadership is not that of lording over the flock, intimidating and dominating them, but one of pastoral care that seeks the sheep to grow to the point where they obtain steadfast maturity in the faith (Luke 22:24-26; 1 Peter 5:1-3). Ideally and biblically, leadership should be entrusted to a plurality of spiritually qualified elders. (Titus 1:5-9. However this does not rule out a paid preaching ministry – 1 Timothy 5:17-18.)

However, all true Christians should be committed to the following Scriptural truths concerning His coming to which we all yearn and pray “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20). This confident hope is what we look to:

Christ will return, personally and bodily from heaven, in glory (Acts 1:11; Matthew 16:27) There will be a resurrection of men to stand before Him for judgment. There, God will be seen to rectify all the wrongs of evil in history (Daniel 12:2 cf Matthew 25:31-46 cf Revelation 20:11-15) Those who “do not know God and do not obey the gospel” will judged and punished with everlasting destruction in hell (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9) The righteous ones who have trusted in Christ will enter into their eternal reward, freed from all remaining sin, with resurrected and glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15:12f) God will dwell with his people in a new heaven and earth, free of sin, for eternity (Revelation 21)

We need to reject the teaching of those who claim:

Christ has already come (be it in the destruction of Jerusalem or some more contemporary event or person – 2 Thessalonians 2:2) That Christ’s kingdom has/will fully come in this age (be it via social improvement or manifestation of spiritual gifts, a perceived ‘Christianising’ influence of the gospel, etc. – John 18:36)

The lack of sound biblical preaching and teaching is why so many churches embrace false doctrines and run after every gimmick that comes to town.

“And they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”

2 Timothy 4:4