What Did God Establish?

                                                                                                                

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Topic # 1443                                                                                               

 

Introduction.

1. There seems to be agreement that, on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ, the "church" was established ‑ Acts 2 gives the record

2. Our study tonight deals with the question: "WHAT was established when the `church' was established?"

a. Now, that might sound foolish, but many of the concepts that people have of the church are NOT Biblical at all!

b. One Gospel preacher (Robert Turner) [Note: much of this material has been gathered from "Plain Talk" articles now in book form.] has written this: "It seems many think of the church as something like a little red wagon.  `Established on Pentecost' ‑‑ it stood ready to roll, and people could jump in and ride to heaven.  But somewhere along the line, a side‑rail broke, an axle      was bent, the tongue came loose, and finally a wheel fell away.  Martin Luther tried to put the wheel back on, but further bent the axle in his effort.  Others      replaced the tongue with a new but different instrument ‑‑unsuited to the purpose and function of the original tongue.  Alas, the church was broken down and out of service.  "Then Alexander Campbell and Barton W. Stone      determined to restore the church.  They straightened the axle, replaced the tongue with an original model, repaired the side‑rail and put the wheel back in place. Now people could again ride home to heaven."

3. His point is that the church is often thought of as a kind of "vehicle" between the Lord and His people.

a. You just GET IN and ride off to glory!

b. In our day, the "church" is something like a lodge or a society, somehow related to certain buildings.

4. It is of interest to note that prophesies concerning the establishment of the church refer to a RELATIONSHIP between God and individuals

a. ISA 2:2

b. Isaiah's point was that GOD'S LAW ‑ the RULE or government of God IN CHRIST would be established for all nations!

1.  God established TRUTH, (ie. the New Covenant)

2.  And the Lord's "church" consists of people who are identified with His TRUTH ‑ NOT a people who are identified with a "party!"

5. The word "church" is a collective noun like "herd", or "covey" (ie. it refers to a "group")

a. Thus the "church" is a "group" of people, but it is not just ANY people!

b. Christ's "church" (or group) is made up of His "saints and faithful brethren" who obey His TRUTH!(Col.1:2)

c. Of all the people who were gathered in Jerusalem on Pentecost, only those who "gladly received his word" and "were baptized" were members of His church!

6. Perhaps the most significant thing about this matter is that it reminds us that we must be dedicated, NOT to some "party" ‑ We must be dedicated to Christ and to His Cause!

7. Tonight:  a "study" of passages dealing with the "church"

a. What did Jesus "BUILD" when He built the "church"?

b. What did He "BUY" when He paid for the "church"?

c. What did He "CLEANSE" when He cleansed the "church"?

 

Discussion

I. What Did Jesus BUILD?

A. Matt.16:13‑18 ‑ The figure: constructing a temple. [The "foundation" is Jesus. Note what's built on foundation]

1. 1Cor.3:10‑17

a. Picture: Christians teaching, lost are hearing

b. Some are responding to the saving Gospel message!

(Note: Converts are like gold, silver, etc.)

c. Important: The CONVERTS are not going into the

building ‑ (ie. The "building" is not something that Jesus established BETWEEN Him and them!) They ARE the building!

2. In the building of that temple, converts ("living stones") are the building blocks ‑ 1PE 2:5

3. Other passages also picture this BUILDING as a dwelling place for God: Ephesians 2:19‑22

B. Point: While the lost are hearing the Gospel message preached, Christ is "building His church" as they obey, one by one, & conform their lives to His will!

1. Jesus is bringing together people who heed His call

2. And, as a "called out" body of people, they are (when considered as a whole) likened to a BUILDING!

C. Important:  The "building" that Jesus built is NOT something separate from the people ‑

1. The church is not a "vehicle" into which folks get to ride off to heaven.

2. The church is THE SAVED PEOPLE!

3. Jesus died to save PEOPLE ‑ NOT a "vehicle" or a       "conveyance" or an institution of some kind

D. So, the answer to question, "What did Jesus build?":

1. Jesus built A SANCTIFIED, SAVED PEOPLE that He likens to a "building"

2. He did NOT build an institution that would save us

3. He, Himself is the Savior

4. Thus, the church does not save ‑ It IS "the saved" and Jesus is the Savior!

II. What Did Jesus Purchase With His Own Blood?

A. ACT 20:28

B. Figure: BUYING a slave to set him free ie.emancipation!

a. 1Cor.6:20  ‑ "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

b. 1Cor.7:22‑23 ‑ "For he that is called in the Lord,{being} a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, {being} free, is Christ's       servant.  Ye are bought with a price..."

c. Gal.5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

C. Fact: We are in "slavery" to sin UNTIL we "obey from the heart that form of doctrine delivered to us" It is Christ's death (ie. the shedding of His blood) that       makes our freedom possible ‑ Read Romans 6:1‑18

D. Thus, Christ "paid the price" for your sins and mine!

E. By His death, He "acquired" PEOPLE, one by one, as each humbly submits to His will

F. Again, Jesus did NOT purchase some kind of institution that people could GET INTO and be saved ‑ Jesus, with His own LIFE, purchased PEOPLE who, considered   collectively, are called "the church"

 

III. What Did Jesus CLEANSE?

A. Ephesians 5:25‑27

B. The "cleansing" is "w/the washing of water by the word"

1. The reference is to TRUTH and OBEDIENCE!

2. Jesus "cleansed" those people who submit to the "washing of water with the word..."

3. Figure pictures removal of sins like FILTH that is washed from clothes or body ‑ Acts 22:16; 1Pet.3:21

C. Again, the application of the water with the word is made to individuals [This is not the cleansing of some sort of "institution" that we are IN!  No one is going to be cleansed because his name is on a "church roll!"]

1. One hears the truth, believes it, obeys it (Ax 2:38)

2. Thus, Christ's "cleansing of the church" is the remission of sins that He makes possible for lost sinners ‑ ONE by ONE!

3. The cleansing continues throughout a christian's lifetime as he repents and prays for forgiveness (Acts 8:22; 1John 1:8‑10)

4. Again, the idea is NOT that of GETTING INTO some sort of "conveyance" that will carry the whole group through a "Jiffy Wash"

5. It is the idea of EACH ONE being cleansed by the blood of Jesus as we adjust our will to His!

 

Conclusion

1. Jesus BUILT, BOUGHT, & CLEANSED the "church!"

2. The "foundation" has been laid; the "purchase price" has been paid, the "cleansing" BLOOD has been shed

3. His sacrifice of Himself was "once for all" (Heb.10:10)

4. Yet, there is a sense in which the construction work still goes on...

a. "Lively stones" continue to be built on the foundation

b. The price for freedom from sin (the blood of Jesus) is still provided and "whosoever will may come"

c. The cleansing power of the blood of Christ is yours and mine for the using.

5. Christ did NOT build, buy, & cleanse some sort of vehicle into which you can come, be seated, & ride home to heaven!

6. He'll "build" YOU into His building, "buy" YOU from your slavery to sin, & "cleanse" YOU from your spiritual filth!

7. Then, and only then will you be a part of that body of people which has been saved by His grace ‑ie. His "church"