The Baptist Distinctives, the reason we are Baptists.

The Autonomy of the Local Church

What does autonomous mean?

Self-supportive, self-propagating, and self-governing.

The early Church emphasized that Jesus was Lord of all and that included the Church; making the church governed by God, and not men.

(Acts 2:36) "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."

(Acts 10:36) "The word, which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)"

The apostles had no question who was the head of the Church.

(Mat 28:18) "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."

The apostle Paul recognizes the head ship of the church was not in mans hands.

(Acts 9:5) "And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks."(Acts 9:6) "And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do."

The Bible is clear on the autonomy of the Church.

(Eph 4:14-16) "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; {15} But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: {16} From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

(Col 1:18) "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence."

(Eph 1:22-23) "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, {23} Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."

The Church is a body that can be assembled.

(Mat 18:17) "And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican."

So the church Jesus refers to is not some big spiritual thing that cannot rule itself. The Church can act. It can speak with one voice, which involves an official action. Unorganized or unauthorized gatherings have no authority to act. Denominations, or fellowships, synods, or any collected structure of them are not churches.

The Church is a body that acts with divine authority. The authority that is given from Jesus to the Local Church is shown in the fact that the voice of the Local Church is final.

(Mat 18:18) "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

The importance of the church can scarcely be overstated. It is that which God purchased with the blood of His own Son (Acts 20:28). It is that which Christ loves, nourishes, and cherishes (Eph. 5:25, 29), and which He shall present to Himself blameless in all her glory one day (v. 27). Building His church constitutes Christ’s principal work in the world today (Matt. 16:18) through His giving of spiritual gifts (Eph. 4:12). Thus, the exercise of those gifts by believers aligns us with what Christ is doing today.

The apostle’s practice shows how the autonomy of the local church works in the New Testament.

It Organized itself.

(Acts 6:1-7) "And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. {2} Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. {3} Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. {4} But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. {5} And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: {6} Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. {7} And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith."

The Church propagated itself.

(Acts 13:1-4) "Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. {2} As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. {3} And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. {4} So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus."

The Church made decisions based upon prophecy and the Bible.

(Acts 15:22-23) "Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: {23} And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:"