The Church of Christ (part 3)
We have been talking about the church past several weeks. And as I was reminded of the church. NR Thomas communion the Mike had alluded to the fact that there's a lot of things going out of balance. No need to keep our minds Upon Jesus, you know as as important as politics and as important as America is and as important as life on Earth is there's nothing more important than Jesus Christ and his church. And so when we think about that our minds are to be focused Upon Jesus all the time and when I say our minds are to be focused on the church, what am I saying? focused upon you one another one another there's over a hundred and twenty. mentions of that phrase in the New Testament one another one another love one another God one another help one another over and over again at one another stands out in the New Testament. So it is about one another and it's about going to heaven together. We're helping each other. That's why we assemble on the first day of the week to encourage one another. Yes, we assemble to worship our God. That's remember back to Calvary and the honor Jesus for all that. He's done. Yes, we do that but we're here to encourage and to build up one another in the Most Holy Faith. That's what we do on the Lord's day and not just the Lord's day. But as often as we can. As often as we can but Jesus had come into the region of Cesery of Philippine the ass who do men say that I am. And they responded saying some say John the Baptist some say Elijah some say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets and Jesus said to them, but who do you my 12 closest friends? Who do you say that? I So he's addressing all. There's probably alone.
At this time, they're probably looking at one another. Helen Peter the brashness of Peter the boldness of Peter
he stands up and he says Lord you are the Christ the son of the Living God and I can probably picture the other eleven going. Yeah, that's right. You are that's right.
And so Jesus turns and he says blessed. Are you Simon bar Jonah signing of John? For flesh and blood has not revealed that to you, but my father who is in heaven. He's revealed by being with me. I've been talkin about that all along on our travels together, and I've been teaching you and so the father through Jesus Through the teaching that he provided them revealed to Peter. And then Jesus said and I say to you you are Peter and Upon This Rock. I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not Prevail against it. Interesting that he's talking about another Realm. spiritual realm outside of this world and he says that spiritual realm called Hades the land of The Departed Souls. That will not prevail. Against my church. From that wanders alone. We understand the church that Jesus was going to build would be indestructible. Nothing could defeat it. Nothing has defeated it. The church established two thousand years ago still stands today metaphorically speaking as a building as a temple. But it represents you and me. We're still standing. We're still part of that group that was established on the day of Pentecost. And so the gates of Hades will not Prevail against it essentially. Where Jesus was really talking about? Daniel chapter 2 and verse 44 that's the pastor's that Kayden just read to us. Although he read from verse 36 2 verse 44 the emphasis on that chapter is about four World kingdoms. And Daniel had been call to King Nebuchadnezzar. to interpret the dream for him that Nebuchadnezzar had None of his magicians could tell him what his dream men. What do you knew that one could so we called Daniel? I'm Daniel come and he says, oh the first part of that dream was about you. Oh King Nebuchadnezzar. You're the kingdom of gold. You're that that money Kingdom, but after you will come another kingdom the meno Persian Kingdom. And then after that Kingdom will come another kingdom. The kingdom of the Greeks the Grecian Kingdom Alexander the Great he will come he will conquer the world.
And secular history tells us that Alexander the Great at the age of 22 years old had conquered all the world and he tried. Because there were no more worlds to conquer.
And then after him was the fourth Kingdom the Roman Kingdom and he says in those days the days of those kings. I will set up a kingdom and it will never be destroyed. Emily turn into the New Testament family fun that there were two people who put Jesus on the cross.
the Jews give us Barabbas crucified Jesus.
So they put Jesus on the cross.
But it was under the legal authority of who the Romans and it was. The ruling leader in Jerusalem who washed his hands of the whole matter said. Yeah, go ahead. You can have Jesus you can do with him what you will of course they crucified him.
Pontius Pilate washed his hands of the whole matter and so we find that the head of the church. That he was going to build was going to be put to death.
But then we read that he arose from the dead we sing that song. He arose a Victor from the dark domain anylist forever with his Saints to rain. Gyros that's why we assemble today. That's what we just did and memorializing that one who died for you and for me, but who rolls? And he established his church his kingdom. And so we find as Jesus is talking to Peter and the apostles in Matthew chapter 16 when he says I will build my church and the Gates of Hell shall not Prevail against it and I will give to you the Keys of the Kingdom.
So he's going to build his church and yet he's going to give the Keys of the Kingdom. 2 Peter in the apostles and he says whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed on her show but have been loosed in heaven and whatever you bind on Earth shall have been bound in heaven.
another words when you preach your preaching the entrance into the church into the kingdom. And so they had the keys and Peter use those keys on the day of Pentecost. When you recall the people that day perf that they had crucified the Christ. They realize they were guilty of all that they said men and brother. What shall we do and Peter so here's the keys.
Here it is open that gate to the prison of death and he says repent and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins for what you've done to Jesus.
Can You Feel the relief in the crowd If you were standing there. Could you get that? Thank you. I can be safe still. Because I have put the death of Messiah and even though I've done that I can still be saved. And tell Jesus.
Began his church that day because the Bible tells us that those who were added to their number were added to the church by the Lord himself those who were being saved. So the day of Pentecost is the pivotal bebible history. And really in all of history. And so Jesus began building his church on that day, but it was a church called The Kingdom. See those two words are interchangeable Kingdom in the church. And when we talked a little bit more about that as we talked about the Church of Christ here we learned from a reminder for what we talked about earlier that salvation is in Christ. He says there are four and you're all things for the sake of the elect and that loss that they also May obtain the Salvation which is in Christ Jesus. Show salvation is in Christ Jesus.
So, how do we get into Christ Jesus for as many been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Therefore you are in Christ Jesus Through the means of baptism salvation is in the Church of Christ y. Well if you're in Christ, you're in the church, which is his body Christ is the head of the church and he is the savior of the body. So as a reminder, once again, Jesus died for the entire world. From beginning to end think about that he died for every woman and every man. Die for their sins of the entire population that has ever existed and ever will exist on the face of the Earth and yet not everybody is in and not everybody is in his church. Because he's the savior of what of the entire world know. He's the savior of the body the church. This tells me I need to be in that box. I need to be in that church the very thing that he said he was going to build.
and to put a little emphasis on that a little! Paul says the next chapter 20 verse 28. He purchased the church with his own blood.
You can purchase the world with his own blood. He died for everybody. But he's the savior of the body. He's the savior of the church and he purchased the church with his own blood. So two passages of scripture that tell us where we need to be we need to be in Christ and we need to be in his body and that's all I brought you being baptized into Christ.
He's the head of the body. He's a head the head of the church, which he said he was going to build the Ecstasy of the call that one that's translated Church. Therefore we have the Church of Christ or the body of Christ and the body is the church. And there's only one body and there's only one Church what makes the difference we have thousands of churches across America. How do we know which one we're supposed to be long to? Just we pick and choose. Whoever has the better church building Whoever has a funner experience. Whoever has the best worship. What makes the difference? the truth the truth Jesus was talking about if you're going to be my disciples then you're better abide or continue or remain in my worst. and then he acquaints word with truth when he says and You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. His word is truth. That makes all the difference. So we look to the truth. You look to the word of God and you say what did they do?
What did they do my talking about the people that we read about in the New Testament we can go to the Epistles for the church at Corinth? Or we could go to the churches of Apison Ephesus were the churches of galatia. And we can read about all these churches that Paul wrote to what were they doing? What were they?
I thought I look at those passages and I and I say are we doing those things?
We can look and they took the Lord's Supper.
When did they take it.
Says on the first day of the week. What did they do? They practice baptism? That's how one was made a member of the Lord's church. Now the Lord's church is the church that houses everybody. But there are congregations of the Lord's Church scattered throughout the world. Again. There's a church at Corinth. There's a Church of Christ that wrong. There's a Church of Christ in Ephesus. There's a Church of Christ in galatia. We read about those but there's also now today there's a Church of Christ in Gore. There's a Church of Christ in Muskogee. Fort Smith Hartford, Connecticut
Hong Kong China
The Church of the round-the-world congregations of the Lord's Church.
Paul said that he went to all the churches. And he taught them the exact same things.
That's what makes the difference. So whatever the church in Jerusalem was doing was also being done in Corinth in wrong and sulfur and Lord willing and hopefully that's being done here and Gore. Hong Kong San Francisco
There's even churches in Russia. We have missionaries everywhere and churches everywhere. And so that's what makes the difference the word of God. That's why it's called the word of the kingdom and we'll get to that in just a moment, but hear other Appalachians or nomenclature associated with the church. Churches of Christ. Church, the body the temple of God the bride of Christ the Church of the Living God that house of God that has of Christ and the kingdom and that's what we're focusing on today is the idea of that Kingdom For unto us a child is born For unto us a son is given and the government will be upon his what is shoulder. Deal support Montgomery. What's that mean? He's going to support Republicans and Democrats. He's not talking about that kind of a government, but he's talking about the leadership of that Kingdom.
The Authority that reside within the kingdom that he was going to bill and noticed as he says the increase of his government and peace there will be no end
And then we as we continue at the very bottom it says from that time forward even forever. that's what Daniel chapter 2 and verse 44 says in the days of those kings you established a kingdom and it will stand for ever and hear you saying again, then Isaiah chapter 9 and 4 7 it's going to stand forever. And that's what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 16 beginning of Verse 18. The gates of Hades will not Prevail against it ever. It'll stand nothing can defeat the Lord's church. It's indestructible. What? In 1st Peter chapter 2 or First 1st Peter chapter 1 beginning verse 22 the Bible tells us that the seed the word of God is indestructible. And then we call attention to the fact that in Luke chapter 8. Jesus is telling the parable of the sower. Who's showing the seed and the seed is what? the word of God and that produces after its kind every seed produces after its read about that in Genesis chapter 1
seed produces after its kind so if you plant an orange seed it's going to grow apples right know it Cruz's efforts, it produces an orange.
So if you plant the seed the word of God in someone's hard what comes up Christian a follower of Christ. That's what it produces a child of God and nothing other.
So we find that indestructible seed is what powers the church. And that church is the pillar and ground of the truth according to 1st Timothy chapter 3 verse 15. So it's all connected while the truth produces a Christian and a Christian is out to the church. The church is to be the pillar and the ground up holding the sea the word the truth. And of course in Ephesians chapter 3 the Bible tells us that the church is to make known the manifold wisdom of God the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So that's just saying it this way.
Go into all the world and preach the gospel. That's what that means preaching the manifold wisdom of God or preaching the gospel. Either way same thing the church has that responsibility. So who's the church?
the four walls of this building know we are it's your responsibility my responsibility. To go into all the world and here we are in this little world of gor. We need to share that gospel message that word with others. So as we think about the kingdom and we think about its Eternal Thor to Authority the fact that it's indestructible again a kingdom that will stand forever. It'll never be destroyed.
Then in chapter 7 Dominion rule Authority and a kingdom. Who ever heard of a kingdom without Authority or rule or Dominion? Right, whoever heard of the Kingdom without a King Jesus Christ is King of his kingdom. He's king of you and me. He's our sovereign. and only you not the Democrat Party not the Republican party not America as Grand as those things are Jesus Christ is King. We take our marching orders from him. And no one else.
And so a kingdom according to Daniel 7 will never be destroyed Hebrews chapter 12 tells us a kingdom that cannot be shaken another Words that cannot be removed. That's the idea. It cannot be removed. And that's the point that Daniel is making you know those passages as well as here. We just talked about the four kingdoms. That would be established. Where are those kingdoms today? Yes, the city of Rome is still standing, but the kingdom of Rome is not. I understand that there's a difference between a city and a kingdom. Kingdom we talked about. Well, it's got to Amber's but the kingdom goes from from Rome until India and down to Asia Minor back up into Europe into England. And that's the the layout of the Kingdom, but that's a physical Kingdom. But when God told me I'm going to take your kingdom away from you. What did he mean that he was going to take his land from him know that he was going to take his authority his rule his power from him that he would no longer be ruling. No longer have authority. So a kingdom that cannot be destroyed and a kingdom that stands for rather. That's the authority those four kingdoms. Their Authority are extinct now gone the way of the dinosaur. But Jesus is Kingdom stands forever and it cannot be destroyed. That's the whole point in all of this as we consider the idea of Kingdom to him be glory in the church in the ekklesia by Christ. Jesus to all generations for how long Forever and ever. Amen. The church is forever and ever. Do the Saints and faithful brethren? Now he's not saying there's a group of people called the Saints and a group of people called the faithful Brethren. He's just saying two words meaning the same thing again called parallelism are synonymous to the Saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in colossae Paul address this letter to and then he says what he has delivered us from the power of Darkness into the kingdom of his dear son or the son of his love. So we are in the Kingdom because the Ephesian Christians Saints and faithful Brethren were in the kingdom and if we did what they did we will get what they got. And if they got the kingdom there are in the Kingdom, where are we in the Kingdom because we're in the church because we did exactly what they did. God is no respecter of persons, right? So he expects us to do what they did. And if we do what they did and take out Heaven. Well if we do what they do. That's what makes the difference. That's why we can say look at the church down the road. What do they do? What do they preach? What do they were? How do they worship?
It comes down to a thority. Whatever you do in practice and in preaching do all in the name the authority of the Lord that's what we're supposed to do. We have no Authority on our own. I have no authority to preach anything other than what God tells me to preach and teach here in this world. Neither does the Lake Road Church of Christ? Neither do the elders Who oversee the Lake Road Church of Christ. Neither do any other Christians who gather together on the had any right to add or take away or to pervert or distort the word of God? We're all to be guided by the same thing as these people were the word of God the word of God. and so we are in the Kingdom which is his body, which is his church. John says I'm your brother and companion in the tribulation and Kingdom. You should have a lot of people today 99% of the churches and Gore. Preach this. When Jesus comes back he's going to come back and he's going to establish his kingdom. on here And it's going to be ruling from Jerusalem. That's where Jesus Will Rule from.
Can you read that in your Bible? Absolutely, not what we're looking at passengers that say the kingdom was existing then. Jesus is not coming to establish a kingdom. He's going to come and take the kingdom and give it back to the father will get to that in just a moment. The Kingdom's is existing in the first century. To the Church of God, which is that corn to those who are Sanctified set apart same word for Holy. In Christ, Jesus called to be Saints and that the word Saint is a derivative of the word Sanctified which is the derivative of the word. Holy Havaianas don't mean the same thing. We use different English words to identify them, but they all mean the same thing Sanctified. Holy set apart Saints. If there's one conquerors one, there's one group of people that think that there are Saints who are better than all the other Saints. Actually, there's no other sayings. They're just better than all the other people we call them saints and we idolize them. And then there's the rest of us were all part of the priesthood of God. We're all part of the sainthood if you will. If you have been Justified and Sanctified by the blood of Christ You Are Holy you are scented you are Sanctified. That's the idea.
Now here's what I was talking about. Then comes the end. When he Jesus delivers the kingdom to God the Father for he must Reign till he has put all enemies under his feet. So then comes the end. What's that the end of time? The second coming when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father the kingdom is in existence. But he's going to deliver it back to the father. Who is the kingdom you and me? Who is the kingdom the ekklesia the call that one? Who is the kingdom the Church of Christ? Who is the king of the church? Who's the kingdom nobody? Who's the kingdom? the people of God All those expressions all those phrases mean the same thing and he says I'm going to give the kingdom the people God back to God. But notice this this is very important about Jesus Christ. Once he does that after death has been destroyed. And all authority has been has stepped out all the enemies in The Last Enemy being deaf. Jesus comes and he says he her father here are your people Don't notice what Paul says now when all things are made subject to him. Then the sun himself will also be subject to him.
Who put all things under him that God the Father may be all in all. So after he gives back the price has all authority in heaven and on earth now. Then he gives the kingdom back to the father and he says here are your people. Been here is all authority that I have been given that you have given me is now given back to you. Evan twice subject himself to the father for how long Amber why because he's one of you he's one helped me. He's one of us now. That's what Jesus gave up, but he gave up any Turtle attribute. Being equal with God the Father. Now you think us. Just like us were subject to God and now he's going to be subject to God forever. Christ love you so much that he gave himself. And did those things for you and for me?
What anyone hears the word of the Kingdom the word of the Kingdom that's important because the kingdom is the people it's the ekklesia. It's the church. So what's the center part of the Kingdom the word? Christ word
Proverbs not going to have time to go through all but it says if you receive my words and treasure my commands within you so that you incline your ear to wisdom you want wisdom. James tells us to pray for wisdom, but I can't come in unless you put your nose in the world where you get your wisdom from.
Get it from scriptures, right?
He says apply your heart to understanding. How can you ask for wisdom and then have this book we call the Bible? And we put this on our our coffee tables. Well, we don't even do that anymore do it. Sometimes you're up into the Attic. It's getting some place. It's got dust on it. We don't even know where it is. But he says this is supposed to be in your heart. But he tells us that we're supposed to have this understanding to be a part of the word of God having that wisdom within our heart. Proverbs Chapter 1 this is part of a bulletin a few weeks ago. Notice with Solomon right? She says wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the Public Square. Wisdom is personified personalized becomes a person. She calls to the crowds along the Main Street to those gathered in front of The City Gate how long you simpletons will you insist on being simple-minded? Who are these simpletons? Who are these simple-minded people?
He tells us he says how long will you mockers relish your mucking. How long will you fools? This is God speaking. The holy spirit is speaking this. The holy spirit is calling a certain group of people simpletons. He's calling them markers and he's calling them fools stupid. We're not supposed to use that word.
fools hate knowledge come and listen to my counsel. I'll share my heart with you and make you wise. Brother, this is his heart. Every word comes from his heart and it's for you. It's for me and he says this is what makes you Wise It's not Princeton. It's not Harvard. It's not any college. That's not any education. This is the education that makes one wise.
How do you say you have to understand it? You have to have this in your heart?
He says I've called you so often hell through the word. Time and time again. What did he do? He said he said profits he sent judges. He said preachers. He sent Apostles. He sent teachers. He said other prophet. He said Visa. Because I've been calling you and calling you, but it's like Mom or Dad call me for supper and I ain't coming home. Not too much fun with my friends.
You should have been calling you and you wouldn't come. I reached out to you but you paid no attention. You ignored my advice and rejected correction that I've offered. So no notice this I want this to be on your heart. This is important. So I will laugh when you are in trouble.
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I've got a bad heart.
I'm in trouble Lord, help me. But I've rejected this over and over again and I never study it I never read it because it's not that important to me even though I claimed to be a part of the Kingdom even though I claim to be a Christian a follower of Jesus Christ. I reject and ignore his word. So God says who are you to call on me? How are you? I will laugh when you're in trouble. I will mock you.
You are nothing to me. Why because you made him nothing to you? Because you would not love the truth. That's exactly what Paul says and 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 10. He says they were deceived by unrighteousness because they did not receive the love of the truth. And when you don't have the love of the truth, guess what you don't go to bible class and you have a very hard time coming to church.
But the church the people is where instruction is involved and where the Bible is read. It's where we get our wisdom.
and people rejected and then he says when you cry for help notice what he says, I'm not going to answer you. Why should I see if we treat Jesus we treat God like he's some sort of Jeannie that one in times of trouble. I just call upon him. He's my little puppy on a string and you come right over to me when I need you.
Tell me things are good, and I'm away from you for a little while. I'll let you go your own way. I'll call you again some other time when I really need you. We really need them every hour of every day.
That's what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. That's what it means to be devoted to Jesus Christ. To do what he says if if I have this in my word in my heart. I'm doing what he's asked me to do. I want to be doing what he's asked me to do and I want to be a part of the people. believe in him and that follow him I want to They're my family. That's what he's talking about. This is the family of Christ. What's another word that we use to describe the church the accuracy of the people of God, so as we close and I know we're going a little bit over time. I'll have to come back next week. He says though. They anxiously search for me. They will not find me for they hated knowledge. That's why.
I don't need to learn that stuff. That's all baby stuff. That's for children.
Lower the song Years Ago by Pat Benatar, hell is for children. It's just a myth for little children to keep them in line.
Bible classes for children health for children churches for children and I look at them in the male species Among Us and it's the male species you say Church of really for women. That's why you have more women coming to church and you do men. It's a sissy thing. Was Jesus a sissy? Going to the Cross to do what he did for you and for me, I'm afraid not folks. That was a man.
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and yet we can treat him with contempt. Because we don't want to hear. About the knowledge and wisdom. He's trying to give us.
That's why we have Bible classes. That's why we have Bible studies. I'm here. Yo, I'm not doing a lot these days. You can call me up and say hey Doug. Could you study with me? Can you help me can can we look at this together? I'm here for that. The elders are here for that. We can have Bible studies all the time.
But we don't.
And so Paul says because they received not the love of the truth. So we'll skip around if you abide in my word. Continue Renee you are my disciples indeed. In other words, you are truly my disciples. So who are the true disciples? Think about that. Those who continue in his word? My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. It was true then and it's true now. Things haven't changed. There's nothing new Under the Sun. And you know who once were alienated and enemies in your mind that Wicked Works yet. Now, he has reconciled in the body was flesh through death to protect you. Holy and blameless in a above reproach in his sight. That's Grace. That's all Grace but notice what he says if oh, there's a condition here. If indeed you continue in the faith. So here we have everybody wants Grace. I love Grace Grace save me I'm a sinner. We all understand that. Are we all desire to have Grace because we do sin. How do you say she got to continue in the face? He says he has great. Here's what I've done for you. I've reconciled you back to the father is through my my crossed the shedding of my blood. I've done all that for you. If you continue in the faith a grounded and steadfast are not moved away.
We got to love this as much as we love Jesus because this comes from Jesus. This is his hard and he saying grab a hold of my heart. And if you do that, oh the blessings that you will be showered with are immeasurable. And they're coming your way if you do count on it, because those are promises he's given that will happen. So we say that to say there is a kingdom. There is a church that Jesus Built it belongs to him. And it's Guided by the word of his kingdom. And we continue in that word. We remain in his grace. We remain in his love and we will be showered with blessings. Do you believe it? If you do believe it.
Then I'm going to ask you this perhaps you wondered from the truth. Perhaps you have not love the truth as you should have. Jesus says all you have to do is come back home and do that. It's going to make the truth in your life. There might be some here today who desire that but has not been a part of the church because you have not been baptized into Christ. You can do that today. So by faith if you desire to be a part of this Kingdom and two grow in his word the word of his kingdom want to come forward as Together We Stand and sing.