The Cross and the Church (2)

INTRO

3 uses of “church” in NT (Mt 16:18; Rom 16:16; 1 Cor 14:34)

Draw the connection between the cross of Christ and the church—universal, local, worship

The Cross Purchased the Universal Church

The means of purchase: blood (Acts 20:28)

Acts 20:28 He purchased the church—He acquired the church, became His own possession

The church—His acquired possession (1 Pet 2:9);

Like Israel Is 43: 21 in LXX (the people whom I acquired); Ps 74:2; Ex 6:6 “I will redeem you”

The motive for purchase: love

Eph 5:23, 25 He saved the church by giving Himself for it.

The meaning of the purchase:

Jesus paid the ransom price; we belong to him (Ti 2:14; 1 Cor 6:19-20)

He only purchased one church—one special people

The Cross Effects the Local Church

Effects my relationships in the local congregation (Rom 15:3)

Christ did not choose to please himself; neither should I (Rom 15:1-2; 14:14-15)

Suppose one believed since Adam and Eve originally ate produce only, he/she should only eat produce. That’s their conviction, personal faith. Not my job to show them their faulty reasoning or to try to get them to eat meat. 1 Cor 8.8, 11-13

Many congregations have been hurt because someone has knowledge (1 Cor 8:1)

Because of the cross, I forfeit my rights: better to suffer loss (1 Cor 6.1-8)

Effects my conduct in the local church (2 Cor 5:14-16)

We love to the degree that He loved us (Jn 13:34-35)

The Cross motivates the church assembly (worship)

We do not worship the cross as Catholics but the cross is at the heart of all we do in worship

In the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 11:26)

In preaching—the content of our preaching (1 Cor 1:18-23)

In singing (Jam 5:13; Col 3:16; Rev 14:3; 15:3)

In prayer (Heb 9:12; 4:14-16)

In giving (2 Cor 8:9)

The cross is all we have to glory in (Gal 6:14)

EXHORTATION

The cross and the church are inseparable.

The church exists because of the cross, and the cross happened for the church.

Are you in the Lord’s church?