Sunday, July 13, 2014 am
BACK TO BASICS 22
The New Testament Church 6
The work of the church – Edification
Last week we began examining the work of the church.
We addressed the need for evangelism.
As we continue our study of the work of the church today we want
to address edification.
As
noted in our introduction last week, there is much misapplication
concerning the work of the church, both in the denominational world and
among brethren. It is so
prevalent that the church has lost its Biblical distinction in many
places. When people see a
church today they see a social organization designed to cater to their
worldly needs, with the gospel message as secondary.
That is NOT what the church is about!
We
have defined the church as the “gathering of the saved” and is a
spiritual relationship with God and Christ in its universal sense, and
in a local sense (a congregation) it is “a gathering of saints
(membership based upon belief that they are in the universal church) who
join together in a given location to do the work God has given to such
bodies.” In detail we have
made the distinction between the two.
NOTICE, that as you define the church it has to do with the
saved. It is about our
spiritual life. That is
borne out in every work of the church.
Worship is about God and not us.
Evangelism is taking the gospel to the lost (through supporting
its preaching and edifying its members).
Today we want to discuss the work of edification.
a.
One of the problems we
have today in church is a failure to scripturally define this word and
others.
b.
Edification
(edify) is a word that means to build up –
οἰκοδομή,
(oikodome – noun); οἰκοδομέω
(oikodomeo – verb) – is actually a compound Greek word with 2 roots
meaning 1) a house & 2) to build.
The word is used about 39 times in the New Testament in its
varying forms.
According to its usage in the Greek language, it was a common word that
could have two meanings – either a building that had been constructed OR
the act of building that structure.
As a building it is found in Matt. 24:1 speaking of the “buildings of the temple.”
As the act of building – Luke 12:18 the rich fool desired to “tear down
my barns and build greater”
Matthew 7:24, ““Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and
does them, I will liken him to a wise man who
built his house on the rock:”
(also vs. 26)
Matthew 16:18, “…and on this rock
I will build my church.”
c.
Edification
– spiritually, to build up.
Building, build -
Sometimes the term “build” or “building” is used to describe us– for
example:
1 Cor. 3:9, ““For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field,
you are God’s building.”
2 Corinthians 5:1, “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent,
is destroyed, we have a building
from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
Ephesians 2:21, “in whom the
whole building, being fitted
together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,”
1 Peter 2:5–7, “you also, as
living stones, are being built
up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also
contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone,
elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to
shame.” Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who
are disobedient, “The stone which the
builders rejected Has become
the chief cornerstone,””
d.
Edify, edification
- ANYTIME the word “edify” is used in the New Testament (NKJV), the word
is dealing with building up the saints. The word is found some 10 times
as a noun, and 9 times as edify as a verb.
A study of these texts gives us a good grasp of how the word is
to be used.
Romans 14:19, “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for
peace and the things by which one may
edify another.”
Romans 15:2, “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good,
leading to edification.”
1 Corinthians 14:3–4, “But he who prophesies speaks
edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a
tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies
edifies the church.” (, NKJV)
1 Corinthians 14:12, “Even
so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the
edification of the church
that you seek to excel.”
Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but
what is good for necessary
edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
1 Corinthians 8:1, “Now concerning things offered to idols: We know
that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love
edifies.”
CONSIDER: When we see
this word “edify” or “edification” you will notice it consistently has a
spiritual connotation to it.
It is dealing with strengthening brethren in the gospel.
It is not dealing with supply for our material and worldly needs.
As a church we are expected to grow – that is what edification is
about.
e.
Fellowship
– from the Greek κοινωνία (koinonia - Noun) & κοινωνέω (koinoneo –
Verb), it is a word that means, “close association involving mutual
interests and sharing, association, communion, fellowship, close
relationship.” (BDAG)
The idea of fellowship is sharing something.
WHAT is shared is indicated by the text.
The word in its various forms is used in the New Testament about 38
times. In the KNJV it is
most often translated “fellowship”, then communion, partakers, partners,
sharing, contribution (1x), etc.
A study of the various texts ties this word, as with edify, to spiritual
things (with occasion reference to beneficial relief of saints – next
week). Consider the
following verses:
1 Corinthians 10:20, “…and I do not want you to have
fellowship with demons.”
2 Corinthians 6:14, “Do not be unequally yoked together with
unbelievers. For what fellowship
has righteousness with lawlessness? And what
communion has light with
darkness?”
Acts 2:42, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine
and fellowship, in the
breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
1 Corinthians 1:9, “God is
faithful, by whom you were called into the
fellowship of His Son, Jesus
Christ our Lord.”
Philippians 2:1, “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if
any comfort of love, if any
fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,”
1 John 1:3, “that which we have seen and heard we declare to you,
that you also may have fellowship
with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son
Jesus Christ.”
1 John 1:6–7, “If we say that
we have fellowship with Him,
and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we
walk in the light as He is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
This is a sampling of the passages that use the word “fellowship”.
As noted there are other words translated from the Greek, “koinoneo”
(and its forms) –
distributing to needs of saints (Rom. 12:13 – benevolence);
contribution (Romans 15:26
– benevolence);
share - “Let him who is
taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.”
(Galatians 6:6) also 2 John
11 – shares in his evil deeds;
shared (Philippians 4:15 – evangelism), Philemon 6 – the
sharing of your faith;
partake – (1 Pet. 4:13 – in Christ’s sufferings), 1 Cor. 10:18 –
partakers of the altar (speaking of priests); etc.
NOTICE how in EVERY passage based upon the Greek (and translated into
English), it is not dealing with social gatherings, but that which we
share spiritually (for good or bad).
a.
Ephesians 4:11-16 helps
us understand edification within a local church.
Leaders are given to build us up, “for the equipping of the saints
for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,”
(4:12) …“from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what
every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every
part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of
itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:16)
b.
The church edifies as
its leaders look out for the souls of its saints –
Cf. Ephesians 4:11-16
One of the terms used to describe elders is “pastor” or “shepherd.”
(1 Peter 5:2)
In scripture, when the word is
used it is in reference to the ELDERS and NOT the preacher (unless the
preacher is an elder). The
idea of shepherding is to lead them and feed the flock.
Heb. 13:7, 17 – the elders are watching out for your souls.
An example of this is given in Acts 20:28-31 where Paul is speaking to
the Ephesian elders and he challenges them saying, “Therefore take
heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has
made you overseers, to shepherd
the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”
Paul continues to warn them that
wolves would arise and not spare the flock.
Therefore they were to WATCH.
c.
The church edifies as it worships God –
Last week as we were introducing what the work of the church is we noted
4 works. Typically 3 are
mentioned.
1 Corinthians 14 deals with spiritual gifts and the assembly.
While these miraculous spiritual gifts have completed their
purpose and thus are no longer present, the attitudes and principles
established in this chapter still apply.
“Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let
it be for the edification of
the church that you seek to excel.” (1 Corinthians 14:12)
Paul’s point is that in our
worship, the WAY we execute IS to build us up.
Colossians 3:16,
teaching and admonishing one another
d.
The church edifies
through the teaching of God’s word
– again notice Ephesians 4:12-16.
What are the saints being built up for?
So that they are grounded in the faith and not “tossed to and fro
by every wind of doctrine.” (vs. 14)
So that they can through truth GROW into Christ (vs. 15)
Acts 20:32 as Paul concluded his admonition to the elders he said, ““So
now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace,
which is able to build you up
and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
Colossians 2:6-7 “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the
Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and
built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been
taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”
e.
The church edifies when
we assemble together
-
1 Corinthians 14:26,
“How
is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a
psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an
interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.”
Heb. 10:24-25 – we find that as we assemble, we are exhorting one
another.
f.
The church edifies as we exhort and encourage one another
– many passages dealing with edification are not directed at the church,
but at individuals.
Jude 20, “But you, beloved,
building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy
Spirit,”
Romans 14:19, Rom. 15:2 – as previous mentioned we pursue that which
edifies
Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth,
but what is good for necessary
edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore comfort each other and
edify one another, just as you also are doing.”
1 Corinthians 8:1 says, “Knowledge
puffs up, but love edifies.”
When we have the love for one another we ought to have, it will
contribute to the body growing.
Again, consider Ephesians 4:16 which notes that when EVERY part does it
share it causes growth in the body for the edifying of itself in love.
g.
Much of this growth is also developed by individual efforts
– the church CANNOT make you grow spiritually.
It cannot give you enough knowledge so that you don’t need to
study on your own.
2 Tim. 2:15, Be diligent to present yourself approved to God…rightly
dividing the word of truth.
2 Peter 3:18 tells us each to grow in the grace and knowledge of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:5-11 describes how we build upon our faith so that we will be
strong.
When we grow in the faith, it will reflect upon the growth of the
church.
By doing its work – in essence when a church is doing what God
intended for her to do, edification will be taking place.
IN other words, the body will be built up and we will be
strengthened in the Lord and in the faith.
a.
IN the name of
edification, churches have veered off into many unauthorized practices.
Today we have churches who see it as their mission to “cater to
the whole man”. For some
this has become their PRIMARY focus.
As a result of this, they will build “Fellowship halls” to provide
social and recreational activities; they will use some of these
activities to “attract” visitors from outside; they will conduct
seminars of financial planning, successful parenting and family
counseling, addiction groups, etc.
Some will sponsor sporting teams and events.
Some will build day care centers, schools and colleges to provide
secular education (with a biblical foundation), etc.
b.
EVERYONE of these things
has a place in our society and are needed.
They are good works, and quite honestly, they need to be
organized with godly principles intact.
I would even go as far as to say Christians can, and maybe
should, be involved in every one of these activities.
c.
BUT, ARE THEY THE WORK
OF THE CHURCH? Is the church
authorized to build, sponsor or support such works? The answer is NO!
That is NOT what the church is about!
There is NO Biblical authority for such!
Not ONE example, command or even a remote inference to the church
doing such things. As we
have seen, in the Bible, edification is about building us up
spiritually.
d.
Sometimes it is argued
that such things can be used as a tool to evangelize.
You provide social activities, they will come and you have
opportunity to teach them.
Even if this were true it is STILL not authorized.
BUT, consider what Jesus said in John 6:26 after feeding 4000 with a
small amount of food, “Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly,
I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because
you ate of the loaves and were filled.”
In Acts 2:46, 1 Cor. 11:22 we find that it was in houses where
Christians ate together (not the Lord’s Supper)
e.
IF it takes such to get
one into services, usually it takes MORE of the same to keep them.
That is why churches caught up in these types of activities are
always seeking bigger and bettering things.
f.
One final note here:
As already noted, there IS a place for these things and
Christians MUST prefer one another and ought to engage in social
functions often. In many
instances churches have taken the work that belongs to the individual
and applied it to the church.
That is not right.
That is NOT the work of the church.
We CANNOT “hire” the church to fulfill our personal
responsibilities (Gal. 6:5).
And
thus we can see that edification in the Bible is about building us up in
the faith. When we draw closer to
God, it will draw us closer to one another.
The result will be that we will prefer to be with one another,
even when we are assembled as the Lord’s church we are a part of.
And I think that is what God intended.
Let us keep the work of the church where God intended for it to
be, even in these things.
Think about it.