IT DOES REALLY MATTER WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT THE CHURCH
September 18, 2005 AM
Sermon Outline
MT 16:18,19 & ROM 16:16
INTRO: Some years ago I heard and read statements like Jesus, yes; the church, no. I heard and read of those advocated something called the man, not the plan. I heard and read of those who insisted that we should preach more about Christ and less about the church. Out of my confusion about such statements as these grew a conviction that I was not the one who was confused! Indeed, the more I heard, read and thought, the more convinced I was that either there was a very basic misunderstanding about the nature of the church ... or ... those who were saying such things had an agenda other than that of preaching the truth of the gospel. Dear friends, it does really matter what we believe about the church!
I. JESUS PROMISED THE COMING OF HIS CHURCH, THE KINGDOM
A. Mt 16:18,19 - The timing of this statement is important
1. this is obviously before he is rejected and crucified
2. thus, the idea that the church is a substitute for Gods initial plan because the Jews rejected Jesus is simply not credible (premillenialism!!)
3. Jesus came with the absolute intention of establishing His church
B. The church is the kingdom prophesied in the Old Testament
1. Dan 2:44 - the kingdom prophesied to come during Roman dominion
2. Dan 7:13,14 - clearly, O.T. prophecy referred to Jesus & His kingdom
3. Lk 1:31-33 with Lk 17:20,21 and Jno 18:36,37 - it is also clear, though, that His kingdom is not of the sort with which the world is familiar!
C. Consider, too, ....
1. Col 1:13 - people were being placed into His existing kingdom
2. 1 Cor 15:24 - after all earthly affairs are completed, Jesus will deliver the kingdom to the Father ... until then, He reigns over it (v. 25)
3. the church/kingdom is here and now - not in some future time
II. THE CHURCH IS THE PLACE OF THE SAVED
A. Put some thoughts together: Col 1:18 - 1 Cor 12:13 - 1 Pet 3:21
1. the church of Christ and the body of Christ are one and the same thing
2. people are baptized into the body, the church
3. salvation is attributed to baptism
4. Acts 2:47 - this, then, explains why the Lord was adding them
B. Or, here is another thought: Col 1:13,14
1. Christians have been placed into the kingdom of Christ
2. the redeemed, the forgiven are in the kingdom of Christ
3. and how does this forgiveness come? see Acts 22:16 & Rev 1:5
4. fact: the unredeemed, the unsaved are not in the church
III. THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST
A. Col 1:18 & Eph 1:22,23 - ...the church, which is his body...
1. Jesus is the head of the body
2. no where in scripture is there the suggestion of some earthly head
3. indeed, there is no hierarchy between the head and the church
4. yes, each congregation is to select elders to oversee ... still, beyond the local congregations there is no organization revealed in scripture
B. Each Christian is a member of the body - 1 Cor 12:13
1. 1 Cor 12:18-20 - many members ... but one body
2. the picture of todays religious world? one head and many bodies ... in nature this would be totally unnatural - an is in the spiritual realm
3. Eph 4:15,16 - each member of the body is expected to be functioning
4. if a member ceases to function as intended, the body is weakened
IV. THE CHURCH IS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST
A. Rev 21:2,3,9,10 - Here is an incredible word picture of Gods view
1. the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them...
2. new Jerusalem takes me back to Gal 4:22-31 and the allegory of Hagar and Sarah
3. we are of the Jerusalem which is above (v. 26) - the bride
B. Eph 5:23-26 - Here is a similar idea - Christ is the husband
1. according to v. 26, the marriage takes place in baptism
2. thence, one must be faithful to the groom, the husband
3. unfaithfulness to the husband is spiritual adultery - submission to the husband is simply expected and required
CLOSE: Read with me Acts 20:28. What could be more important to God than the church? If we are careless with our relationship to the church, be assured that God cannot be pleased. If we are careful with our relationship to the church, we can expect ultimately our place in the joys of a heavenly home!
Cecil A. Hutson
18 September 2005