Portraits of the Church (1)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: I want to begin a short series of messages called “I Love the Church,” because I believe we are living in an age when the church is being devalued and minimized. This attitude is pervasive in society and alarmingly visible among Christians. Bear in mind as we talk about the church we are talking about it on two planes (universal and local). Both are equally important!
This attack against the church is subtle and almost seems harmless at first, but is dangerous because the church plays such a sacred and essential role in the Christian life.
If Christians have a weak view of the church, they will have a weak faith!
Let me be transparent. I have wrestled with this in the past. I have allowed bad experiences and circumstances to sour my perception of the church. This week I was thinking upon all the reason why we could develop the wrong attitude about the local, visible church.
I don’t agree with every style or church model, but I love the church.
I don’t agree with the secondary doctrines of some churches, but I love the church.
I believe churches have sought worldly success and produced weak disciples, but I love the church.
I believe churches have forsaken the biblical model and embraced a business model, but I love the church.
I believe what most churches are calling success is actually failure, but I love the church.
I believe churches have substituted the True Gospel for pragmatics, programs, supposed evangelistic zeal, and cultural relevance, but I love the church.
I believe if the example of churches in scripture were followed, a majority of church members would apostatize, but I love the church.
I believe churches have unintentionally become dispenser of cheap grace, but I love the church.
I admit that leaders have failed morally and in character, but I love the church.
I admit that churches have made mistakes, sinned, and hurt people, but I love the church.
I admit that churches have hypocrites and members that fail to live up to their professions, but I love the church.
I admit that churches have been demanding of time and ungrateful to those who serve, but I love the church.
I admit that churches have had the wrong priorities at times, but I still love the church.
I admit that churches have jumped to conclusions and accused before investigating, but I still love the church.
I admit at times churches have been named by scandal, but I love the church.
If we are looking for a reason to be soured against the church plenty have been given. But as I thought of all of the mistakes of the church, I was reminded of the good.
The church is the bride of Christ, body of Christ, building of God, keeper of the manifest wisdom of God, the pillar and ground of the truth, the community of faith, the assembly of the called, the equipper of the saints, the provoker of good, the encourager of the faint, strengthener of the weak, the conquerors of the gates of hell, and the herald of the good news of Jesus Christ, so I love the church.
So, in our quest to understand and appreciate the church, this morning we will look at the portraits of the church in scripture. Before we get too deep into that let’s take note of a few things about the church that we need to remember. Our text for this short series is Hebrews 12:18-24 which is a reminder of the sacredness and essentiality of the church.
18 For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. 20 (For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.” 21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”) 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
This text reminds us of the sacredness of the church. We are not approaching mount Sinai where God appeared with smoke and fire, which was an awe-filled and fearful experience, but something greater, His church — the assembly of His people. We tend to forget the church is sacred. Why is the church sacred?
It is sacred Because it belongs to God. Listen to Matthew 16:18
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Christ owns the church and is the head of the church, therefore it is sacred and will one day be presented spotless, and blameless.
So, what portraits does scripture give us of the church? I want to look briefly at three this week and their implications. We will look at three more next week. Please realize that I am scratching the surface on these portraits. There will be so much in each of these text that I will not get around to explaining because we are painting a broad picture. The first portrait I want us to see is:
The Body of Christ
The Body of Christ
In 1 Corinthians 12:27 Paul paints a portrait of the church as the body of Christ.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
This portrait present each member of the church falling in place under the headship of Jesus Christ fulfilling a particular God given and gifted role.
Every member of the body is necessary and crucial to the health of the body.
Up close we see each member carrying out an essential function that no one else in the body is especially gifted to do.
If we zoom out, we see the absolute interdependence of each member upon the other. Although it is one body it has many members.
There no room for arrogance, pride, or elitism. The eye cannot say of to the hand, “I have no need of you; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
No, we all have need of each other. Have you realized how essential everyone in the body is to your spiritual welfare and growth? Chances are you can look back and see people who were, but its more difficult for us to look around and see who are in the present. If you don’t need anyone, you’re already in trouble!
I never will forget an illustration at a men’s conference we went to. I believe some of the men in this room was at that conference with me. The man rolled out a huge mounted head of a wildebeest. And he said this guy was the renegade. He didn’t think that he needed the protection of the herd, he went it alone. The staunch individualism that plagues America is destroying families and crippling the effectiveness of the body of Christ.
The Holy Temple of God
The Holy Temple of God
A second picture we get of the church is that of a building being built that will become a holy habitation for God.
This building is not brick and mortar, but individuals. Listen to Ephesians 2:19-22
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
The key idea here is that the community of faith is an environment where you build your life in Christ. The house being built is a spiritual house.
There is growth within the fellowship of the saints. As a matter of fact, growth will only take place in conjunction with the church. That should be the framework of every local church and the goal of every member.
As there is a blueprint for a building there should be a blueprint or plan for leading every person to maturity.
DA Carson in his article titled “Why is the Church More Important?” is building a case for the importance of the church over any seminary or para-church organization when it comes to the work of spiritual formation. He concludes that these organizations can only function as supports for the mission of the church. I want to read you a statement from the article about the role of the church in building our faith:
Themelios: Volume 40, No. 1, April 2015 So Why Is the Church More Important?
Sanctification that mortifies such sins simply cannot take place in splendid isolation, nor even with a group of socially acceptable peers. It takes place in the church, made up of people some of whom are unlike us and with whom we would have little in common, people who would certainly not be our friends, much less our brothers and sisters, were it not for the grace of God in the gospel.
He is saying God has designed the church for the work of sanctification, which is the journey for every believer. Friends we will not be blameless and fully mature this side of eternity and we won’t even come close with the fellowship and encouragement of the church.
We are not here to entertain one another at the pier until the Gospel ship arrives. We are here to provoke, instruct, encourage, and correct one another so that we are ready when the ship arrives. Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
The Family of God
The Family of God
If we reflect back on Ephesians 2:19-20 we see this portrait of the church as the family of God.
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
We are no longer orphans, foreigners, or outcasts, but blood bought children of God.
We’re not the baby of family or the only child, but there is a multitude of children in this family.
The Bible uses this language often for the church.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.
A church is family, but so much more than the temporary dysfunctionality we experience here. We are a forever family. Think of it this way, your family just got bigger.
God used Lannie Horn to radically change how I viewed this truth. He shared in a devotion in Jamaica out of Matthew 12:46-50
46 While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. 47 Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.” 48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
He followed that with the statement that these people right here are as much your family as blood.
This should change how we look at the church and one another.
The Wrap-up
The Wrap-up
How do we apply all of this?
Well first, I think we should all approach our perception of the church with a little more fear and reverence. We cannot devalue it, disdain it, neglect it, ignore it and prosper in the Christian life. We should appreciate it and use caution when we are upset or doing the necessary assessment of it.
Second, I believe with serious commitment and intentionality, we should find our place in the body, family, and structure of the church. You’re essential to others and others are essential to you.
Third, we should consider what the purpose of the church is in my life.
Last, I would say that the Gospel is what makes us part of the church. Think about these portraits: the body of Christ, temple of God, and family of God. All of these is a sense of belonging.
