THE CHURCH: GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE
God’s Eternal Purpose • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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INTRODUCTION
God is a God of purpose.
God is a God of purpose.
2 I know that thou canst do all things, And that no purpose of thine can be restrained.
God has the necessary power to carry out His plans.
God has the necessary power to carry out His plans.
27 For Jehovah of hosts hath purposed, and who shall annul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?
Nothing can keep God from accomplishing His eternal purpose!
God planned the church from the beginning.
God planned the church from the beginning.
The birth of the church was not something which just happened.
It was something which had been planned by God from eternity.
God made vast preparations by a great master plan.
He used prophets, priests, kings, generals, armies, empires, builders, masses of people for the time of the birth of the church. Paul said…
3 how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words, 4 whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ; 5 which in other generations was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 to wit, that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power. 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things; 10 to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Jesus spoke with authority about the church and said, “I will build my church” (Mat. 16:18). He defiantly added, “and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it” (Mat. 16:18).
Jesus spoke with authority about the church and said, “I will build my church” (Mat. 16:18). He defiantly added, “and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it” (Mat. 16:18).
The birth of the church took place on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
On this day some three thousand heard the gospel preached by the apostles.
These Jews obeyed the gospel and were added to the church that day.
DISCUSSION
WHAT IS THE CHURCH OF THE NEW TESTAMENT?
WHAT IS THE CHURCH OF THE NEW TESTAMENT?
The church is the body of people who have been called out of the world by the gospel of Christ and over which Christ rules as king
The church is the body of people who have been called out of the world by the gospel of Christ and over which Christ rules as king
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world.
13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 whereunto he called you through our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The church is the greatest institution in all the world - it is a divine institution.
The church is the greatest institution in all the world - it is a divine institution.
The church its often called “kingdom” which refers to its government (Col. 1:13; Rev. 1:9; Mat. 28:18).
The church is also called the house, household, family of God (1 Tim. 3:14, 16).
Inspired writers never referred to the church as a denomination.
Modem denominations came 1,500 years too late to be the New Testament church.
The day of Pentecost of Acts 2 (A.D. 33) is the birthday of the church.
The day of Pentecost of Acts 2 (A.D. 33) is the birthday of the church.
Jesus said, “I will build my church” (Mat. 16:18).
The church had not been built when Jesus made this statement.
If the church had been set up before the first Pentecost after the Lord’s resurrection the apostles did not know it for they said, “Wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6).
Isaiah said, “The mountain of the Lord’s house” would be established in the “last days” (Isa. 2:2-3).
Daniel said, “In the days of these kings [the Roman Empire] shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom” (Dan. 2:44).
John and Jesus preached “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mat. 3:2; 4:17).
After John the Baptist had been beheaded, Jesus taught His disciples to pray “Thy kingdom come” (Luke 11:2).
The first reference to the church existing is in Acts 2:47.
After Acts 2 the church is always spoken of a matter of history.
“And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church” (Acts 15:4).
“Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians” (2 The. 1:1).
Any church established before Acts 2 (A.D. 33) is too old to be the New Testament church. Any church established later than the Acts 2 (A.D. 33) date would be too young!
Jesus Christ is the foundation of the church.
“Upon this rock” (Mat. 16:18). God revealed this truth to Peter (Mat. 3:17; 17:5; Rom. 1:4). Isaiah describes the foundation (Isa. 28:16).
Paul refers to Christ an the chief cornerstone and the only foundation (Eph. 2:19-20, 1 Cor. 3:11).
The religious denominations of today center around some man, woman, doctrine or dogma. They are not built upon The Rock, Christ.
Jesus is the builder and owner of the church.
“I will build my church” (Mat. 16:18).
Moses, Abraham, David nor John the Baptist built the church. Calvin, Luther and Wesley did not build the Lord’s church.
The Lord built His own church.
He is the owner of it because He built it.
Jesus purchased the church with His own blood (Acts 20:28).
Jesus loved the church enough to die for it (Eph. 5:25-27).
Jesus did not build, buy, love and give Himself for a worthless institution.
We must have a high estimate of the church. It is important!
THE ETERNAL PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH
THE ETERNAL PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH
By inspiration Paul makes mention of a mystery that was hid in other ages (Eph. 3:3-11).
By inspiration Paul makes mention of a mystery that was hid in other ages (Eph. 3:3-11).
It is no mystery to us because it is now revealed.
Here is the mystery…
6 to wit, that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,
Thus in the church both Jew and Gentile would become one.
This was in the mind of God from the beginning.
The church or kingdom is the direct fulfillment of the “eternal purpose of God.” Salvation is in the church.
Both Jew and Gentile are reconciled unto God in one body and that one body is the church (Eph. 2:16; 1:22-23).
There are five stages of the church. The Church in:
There are five stages of the church. The Church in:
Purpose (Eph. 3:10-11)
Promise, (Gen. 12:1-4)
Prophecy, (Isa. 2:1-4)
Preparation, (Mat. 3:10-17)
Perfection ( or, fact - Acts 2:47; 15:4).
The church goes as far back as the beginning - and the birth of Paul. It certainly did not come into the world accidentally.
The church goes as far back as the beginning - and the birth of Paul. It certainly did not come into the world accidentally.
15 But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, even from my mother’s womb, and called me through his grace, 16 to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood:
When Paul preached to the Gentiles the gospel of Christ he made known to them the mystery, how that they were fellow-members of the body, the church.
When God separated Paul at his birth to preach to the Gentiles, he separated him to declare to the Gentiles how they might be fellow-members of the church.
When people say that Jesus came to set up a kingdom and the Jews were not ready for it and He set up the church instead they misrepresent Paul.
Man is to be saved in and through the church.
To be in the church is to be in Christ.
No man can become like Christ out of the church.
The church was planned that all might be reconciled unto God (Eph. 2:16).
This is the eternal purpose of God.
THE CHURCH IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE OR CONTINGENT
THE CHURCH IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE OR CONTINGENT
Some say that Jesus came to establish a kingdom but the Jews as a nation refused to accept Him.
Some say that Jesus came to establish a kingdom but the Jews as a nation refused to accept Him.
Thus, as an afterthought, many say, Jesus decided to build the church as a temporary substitute. They further tell us that Jesus will establish His kingdom when He comes again.
This falsehood contradicts Paul’s statement…
13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;
Saints were in the kingdom in the first century.
1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There are some here of them that stand by, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God come with power.
If the kingdom has not come then some of those people are still alive.
Does anyone know their names and addresses?
A contingent means: liable, possible, afterthought, makeshift.
A contingent means: liable, possible, afterthought, makeshift.
If the church is a makeshift it is inferior to the kingdom.
The church is not an accident in any sense.
It is the masterwork of God’s wisdom and power.
It was God’s eternal purpose to build the church.
Paul in addressing the elders at Ephesus said…
28 Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood.
The Lord did not die for an accident or a contingent.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;
Christ died for the church, not an accident
This falsehood that the church is an accident, belittles Christ - for Jesus is the head of the church (Eph. 5:23).
It was God’s eternal purpose to build the church. It is through the church that the blessings of the gospel are to be made known.
It was God’s eternal purpose to build the church. It is through the church that the blessings of the gospel are to be made known.
THE CHURCH PURPOSED BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD
THE CHURCH PURPOSED BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD
God formed and fashioned the scheme of human redemption before He began the execution of it.
God formed and fashioned the scheme of human redemption before He began the execution of it.
3 For we who have believed do enter into that rest; even as he hath said, As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love:
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
That the church had a place in the purpose of God before the foundation of the world is clearly seen
That the church had a place in the purpose of God before the foundation of the world is clearly seen
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love:
Whom did God choose?
11 in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will;
This passage refers to the church.
We are chosen for a purpose.
27 that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Paul refers to the church when he said…
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints that are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus:
“Heritage” (Eph 1:11) means “to make a private possession.”
This is language that refers to the church.
Peter said,
9 But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Yes the church was purposed before the foundation of the world!
Yes the church was purposed before the foundation of the world!
The following will be discussed in another lecture, but let be briefly discuss that…
MOSES AND THE PROPHETS SPOKE OF THE CHURCH AND SALVATION
MOSES AND THE PROPHETS SPOKE OF THE CHURCH AND SALVATION
Paul quotes a statement from Moses…
Paul quotes a statement from Moses…
22 Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand unto this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses did say should come; 23 how that the Christ must suffer, and how that he first by the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.
Paul makes mention that Christ must suffer.
Paul makes mention that Christ must suffer.
We ask, for what was Christ to suffer?
Paul says, “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it” (Eph. 5:25).
Jesus died, suffered, that He might purchase the church with His blood (Acts 20:28).
There was a definite purpose in the suffering of Christ.
Thus, an far back as in the days of Moses, God purposed that the church should be brought into existence by the suffering of Jesus.
Thus, an far back as in the days of Moses, God purposed that the church should be brought into existence by the suffering of Jesus.
As we consider the eternal purpose of God it is important that we realize that…
THE CHURCH AND THE KINGDOM ARE THE SAME INSTITUTION
THE CHURCH AND THE KINGDOM ARE THE SAME INSTITUTION
Both the church and the kingdom were in the preaching of the early messengers of the New Testament.
Both the church and the kingdom were in the preaching of the early messengers of the New Testament.
2 Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
17 From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The seventy proclaimed the same message (Luke 10:9).
After the twelve apostles were selected, they preached that the kingdom was at hand (Mat. 10:7).
And in Caesarea Philippi, Jesus said
18 And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
The church and the kingdom are the same institution.
The church and the kingdom are the same institution.
Those who deny that they are the same institution reject large portions of the Holy Scriptures.
Jesus uses the two words, church and kingdom, interchangeably.
Jesus promises to build His church and give Peter (and all the apostles) the keys, or terms of admission into the kingdom
18 And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
If the church and the kingdom were not the same, Peter and the other apostles would have no right to use the keys of the kingdom on the church.
If the kingdom has not yet been established, as some falsely teach, Peter and the other apostles never had the privilege of using the keys.
Why should the keys be given to them?
The church, or kingdom was established on the first Pentecost following the resurrection, ascension, and glorification of the Messiah.
On that day the keys were used and about three thousand people were added to the church (Acts 2:41,47).
Furthermore, The church and kingdom are entered on the same conditions.
Jesus said
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
What is it to be born again? What is included?
The new birth includes, as does the natural birth, a begetting.
Men are begotten when they believe
1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
Faith comes by hearing (Rom. 10:17).
Peter says Christians are begotten by the Word of God
23 having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth.
But a begetting alone is not the new birth anymore than a begetting alone is the natural birth. The begetting is only part of the new birth.
The new birth includes the entire process of becoming a Christian such as faith, repentance and baptism.
Paul declares that we are saved through “the washing of regeneration [baptism]” (Tit. 3:5).
But baptism is not the new birth, yet it is included in the new birth.
In baptism one completes the process of becoming a Christian, or the new birth.
Men are born into the kingdom. Those on Pentecost believed, repented and were baptized for the remission of sins. They were added to the church (Acts 2:38, 41, 47).
The same process by which one enters the kingdom adds him to the church because they are the same institution.
The church and the kingdom have the same head.
The church and the kingdom have the same head.
Christ is the head of the church (Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22).
And Jesus in the king of the kingdom (Acts 17:7; Rev. 1:5; 17:14).
The church and the kingdom have the same laws.
The church and the kingdom have the same laws.
3 seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue;
If either the kingdom or the church had one thing that pertained to life or godliness which the other did not have, then the one lacking it would be imperfect, and Peter’s statement would not be true of both.
Hence, they must have the same laws.
The church and the kingdom have the same subjects.
The church and the kingdom have the same subjects.
Paul said that the Colossian saints had been translated into the kingdom (Col. 1:13).
All who have been born again are Christians, members of the church, and also are subjects of the kingdom (John 3:5).
The church and the kingdom have the same seed.
The church and the kingdom have the same seed.
In the parable of the sower, Jesus spoke of the Word of God as the “word of the kingdom” (Mat. 13:19), and “the seed” (Luke 8:11).
When the Word, or seed, of the kingdom is received into honest and good hearts it produces subjects of the kingdom.
When the Word of God was preached in Corinth (1 Cor. 15:1-3) many of the Corinthians heard it, believed and were baptized (Acts 18:8).
Paul addressed these people as the “church of God.”
The seed of the kingdom produced members of the church as well as subjects of the kingdom.
If the church and the kingdom are not the same institution, then we have the seed producing two different kinds of plants.
This is contrary to both nature and revelation (Gen. 1:11; Gal. 6:7-8).
This consideration alone should be enough to convince one that the kingdom of heaven and the church are “one and the same.”
The Lord’s supper was to be in Christ’s kingdom (Luke 22:29-30).
The Lord’s supper was to be in Christ’s kingdom (Luke 22:29-30).
The Corinthians observed the Lord’s supper (1 Cor. 11:17-30).
Therefore, they were in the kingdom.
PICTURES OF THE PURPOSED CHURCH
PICTURES OF THE PURPOSED CHURCH
The Bible vividly portrays the nature of the church and the various descriptive ways which are applied to it.
The Bible vividly portrays the nature of the church and the various descriptive ways which are applied to it.
As a pearl, the church is costly.
As a pearl, the church is costly.
It is to be purchased even at the expense of “selling all one has”
45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a merchant seeking goodly pearls: 46 and having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Nothing compares in value with the church purchased with His blood.
As a kingdom, it is obedient.
As a kingdom, it is obedient.
Divine law only comes from king Jesus
13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;
Efforts of others to bind where the king has loosed or to loose where the king has bound are not permitted in the kingdom.
As a house, it is orderly.
As a house, it is orderly.
Every stone in fitly framed together for a suitable habitation of the Spirit
5 ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
20 being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone;
As a flock, it is dependent.
As a flock, it is dependent.
The flock is to be fed upon the pure milk of the word and to look to the great Shepherd of the sheep for spiritual strength
28 Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood.
20 Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, even our Lord Jesus,
As a family, it bears His image.
As a family, it bears His image.
The whole family in heaven and earth is named for Him, and is composed of children of God, joint heirs with Christ of the heavenly fortune
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
16 The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: 17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward.
As a bride, it is vitally joined to Him.
As a bride, it is vitally joined to Him.
The church subjects itself to Him who gave Himself for it, sanctifies and cleanses it, who one day will present it to Himself for eternity
22 Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; 26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, 27 that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself: 29 for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church; 30 because we are members of his body. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and of the church.
As a body, it is united.
As a body, it is united.
No member in unnecessary, each cares for the other, and is joined to Christ the head. It in to have no schism
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. 13 For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now they are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee: or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary: 23 and those parts of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness; 24 whereas our comely parts have no need: but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked; 25 that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffereth, all the members suffer with it; or one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof.
As a candlestick, it is exalted.
As a candlestick, it is exalted.
It serves as a light to the world, reflecting the light of Him who in the true light
9 There was the true light, even the light which lighteth every man, coming into the world.
12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And having turned I saw seven golden candlesticks;
CONCLUSION
No one should speak lightly of the church that was in God’s eternal purpose.
No one should speak lightly of the church that was in God’s eternal purpose.
Membership in the church is important and valuable.
Membership in the church is important and valuable.
David the sweet singer of Israel said
David the sweet singer of Israel said
5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget her skill. 6 Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, If I remember thee not; If I prefer not Jerusalem Above my chief joy.
