Sunday,February 5, 2017 am
THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH (3)
The Church Described (2)
We have begun a
study of the New Testament church.
We are in the midst of defining and understanding exactly what
the church is. Last week we
noted a few descriptions that help define the character of the church –
we noted the church is 1) A called out body, 2) A body with unified
parts, and 3) A kingdom – with Christ as our King, His laws as our rule,
etc. Today we continue
noticing some more descriptions of the church.
a.
Another
description of the church is that of a family.
We are described as the household of God – Ephesians 2:19, 1 Tim.
3:15 (house or family of God).
Ephesians 3:14 – the whole family of God.
b.
We are
described as brethren with God as our Father – 2 Corinthians 6:18
And we are His children – Romans 8:16-17, 1 John 3:1
c.
Our
entrance into this family is via “the new birth” – John 3:3-5, and terms
like adoption are used in scripture – Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:5,
Ephesians 1:5. As such we
are heirs with Him.
d.
As a part
of the household of God – we are called upon
i.
To be
obedient to our Father – 1 Peter 1:14
ii.
To be and
accept His chastening as needed – Hebrews 12:3-11
iii.
To act
like a godly family – 1 John 4:7 (love one another), 4:20-21
iv.
We wear
His name proudly – Acts 4:11-12, 11:26, 1 Peter 4:15-16
a.
In many of
His parables, Jesus related the kingdom to a vineyard and to farming.
Matthew 20:1-16 – where laborers are rewarded at the end of the day,
regardless of when they are hired.
Matthew 21:28-32- parable of two sons.
The one that repented and went was described as obedient
Matthew 21:33-44 – parable of the landowner.
NOTE: In these latter parables, the vineyard at hand could be
Israel, but note in both cases it is taken from them and given to others
(i.e. the church).
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 – the parable of the sower.
About a sower broadcasting seed in a field of hearts.
b.
1Corinthians 3:9 – you are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field,
you are God’s building. This is
a passage about growth and our responsibility to plant and water, and
let God take care of the harvest.
c.
John
15:1-8 – Jesus describes Himself as the true vine and the Father as the
vinedresser. We (as
individuals) are the branches in Him producing fruit.
We are to abide in Him and produce fruit.
If we fail to produce fruit, we are cut off from the vine and
cast into the fire and burned.
d.
As part of
God’s field –
i.
We are to
abide in Him. NOT in
another. Jesus is the ONLY
way to heaven – John 14:6
ii.
We are to
produce fruit – we are to be growing and seeking to increase the harvest
by reaching others. The
church is instrumental in sowing the seed –
1 Thessalonians 1:8 – commended because from them the word of God had
sounded forth cf. Philippians 1:4-5 (they supported Paul in preaching
the gospel);
iii.
At the end
of the day, we will be “harvested” – cf. Matthew 13:24-30 – the Parable
of the wheat and tares.
Explained – 36-43 – in the end, the good and bad are separated.
The bad burned and the good saved.
a.
The
tabernacle/temple was God’s design for the place where He intended His
people to worship Him. Both
were given considerable attention under the Old Law.
In Exodus 25:8-9 the Lord instructs the people to make Him a
sanctuary where He might dwell in their midst.
And it was to be made according to His pattern.
Deuteronomy 12:5, as they prepared to enter the promised land,
they were told the LORD would chose a place to put His name for His
dwelling place. It would be
a place of sacrifices, tithes and offerings.
In time, that place would become Jerusalem
AND eventually, the LORD permitted Solomon to build the temple, a more
permanent structure, but with virtually the same purpose as the
tabernacle. It too was with
a pattern from God – 1 Chronicles 28:10-12, 19-20.
The point being that this was obviously God’s will.
We now know that He had something better in mind – namely, the
church!
b.
Ephesians 2:21-22, 1 Corinthians
3:16-17 – both passages make reference to the church as the temple of
God. Hebrews 8:1-2 ties this
to the true tabernacle in heaven (remember how we noted the church
universal is a relationship of all who are saved).
We are even told in Heb. 8:4-5 that this is what God had in mind
when He gave instructions for the tabernacle.
c.
The
temple, was a place of worship to God.
There were priests and sacrifices and commanded assemblies.
It was a place where God was reverenced and worshipped.
d.
The church
as the temple:
i.
Built by God’s instructions with Christ as the chief cornerstone
– 1 Corinthians 3:9-11 where Paul speaks of being God’s building.
Paul built upon the foundation of Christ.
Ephesians 2:20 speaks of Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone.
1 Peter 2:6-7, Peter elaborated upon this noting Jesus, rejected by the
Jews became the chief cornerstone.
ii.
We
are living stones in this temple
– 1 Peter 2:4-5.
Ephesians 2:19-21 again elaborates on this noting we are being
fitted together into a whole building, growing into a holy temple.
iii.
We
are a dwelling place for God -
iv.
We
are priests – 1 Peter 2:5,
9 – a priesthood
v.
As
part of this temple, we worship God
– 1 Peter 2:5 - to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.,
Hebrews 13:15-16 – offering sacrifices of praise
We are the living sacrifice ourselves –
Romans 12:1-2.
ONE of the works of the church is worship!
We can do this because of this priesthood.
a.
Again,
this is an analogy we have emphasized recently.
There are two analogies to this – as one already married to Him,
and as His betrothed (engaged awaiting a final “marriage”).
b.
Ephesians
5:22-33 – where Christ and His church are compared to the relationship
between a husband and his wife.
In this text we are reminded of not only our responsibility, but
His love for us.
c.
As the
bride of Christ:
i.
We belong
to Christ and are subject to Him – He is head over us and thus we must
submit to His will.
ii.
We keep
ourselves pure and faithful – 2 Corinthians 11:3 – I have betrothed you
to one husband, to be presented a chaste virgin to Christ.
Ephesians 5:25-27.
iii.
To bear
fruit – Roman 7:4 – bear fruit to God!
iv.
In the end
– there will be a final marriage feast – Revelation 21:9, 22:17, 19:9 –
Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
And thus we find
some of the descriptions of the church.
May we understand the character of her and our responsibilities
to her by the way she is described.
And let us seek to do our part to fulfill them.