N.T. CHURCH SERIES - Part 5
Nature of the Church - Body & Temple
Intro:
- Since our study began on the nature of the church we have looked at the terms:
- church ; house of God ; Kingdom of God, heaven, Christ.
- This evening I want to draw to a close this study on the descriptive names given to the
church by studying what is meant by the Body and the Temple.
- Once again let me reminded ourselves of the fact that even though so many
names are given to the church of the N.T. it is of the singularity in number.
- These various different names are terms used to help us understand the nature of
the "called out body of Christ."
Body:
- THE CHURCH IS ALSO REFERRED TO AS THE BODY OF CHRIST.
- This descriptive name is clearly an emphasis on our relationship to Christ and towards
Fellow Christians.
- The church is the Body...Eph. 1:22-23.
- The body is the church ...Col. 1:18 , 24.
- The New Testament teaches that there is ONLY ONE BODY. This figure of speech is
used to denote the singularity of the church.
- Many members --- but ONE....Rom. 12:4-5 ; But still only ONE BODY...I Cor.
12:20.
- Jew and Gentiles were reconciled in ONE BODY...Eph. 2:16.
- There is One Lord, ONE Faith, one Baptism and ONE BODY...Eph. 4:4-6.
- The only conclusion to draw from such strong passages is the fact that
there is only ONE Church which is the Lord's....Matt. 16:18 the one He
has built!
- In the denominational world there are distinctive bodies of religious
groups and show that they are not ONE by the very fact that they call
themselves denominations which means to divide.
- But when speaking to denominational leaders they always say all
churches belong to Christ, failing to recognize what God will do...Matt.
15:13.
- Christ is the HEAD of His Spiritual Body -- The Church... Col 1:18 ; Eph. 1:23.
- His dominion over the church is complete....Eph. 1:22 ; Matt. 28:18.
- Note there is no power for synods, councils, or the Pope.
- Also to note is the fact that even as the body is subjected to the head/mind in
one's physical body so also should this be in the church....Eph. 5:24.
- What the head commands we can and will do...Lk. 6:46.
- What the head does not command and teach we must not do...II John 9.
- From the head comes the impulses that strengthen and move the members of the
Body in the performance of their work...Eph. 4:15-16.
- Christ's Gospel is the power unto salvation...Rom. 1:16.
- Our relationship to Christ as head is in total and complete subjection...Eph.
5:24.
- Christians make up the body of Christ, not different religious groups.
- All Christians are in Christ...Gal. 3:26-27.
- All who are in HIM constitute His body.
- All those who are in HIM are in the church also... Acts 2:47.
- One can clearly see why is impossible to be a Christian in the N.T sense
and not be a part of the body/church.
- IF YOU ARE NOT IN CHRIST YOU ARE NOT IN THE BODY
THE SAME IS TRUE THE OPPOSITE WAY ROUND.
- Our relationship to fellow Christians as members -- should be that of
ONENESS.
- We should be ONE in the sense of the word of being united or having
complete union and harmony with one another.
- This is what Christ prayed for in John 17:20-23.
- Paul rebuked the church at Corinth for not having this ONENESS...I Cor.
1:10.
- Let us now consider why we must be ONE:
- Every joint supplies His part makes the Body strong... Eph 4:16.
- Many members become united in One body...I Cor. 12:12-20.
- Each member has His work to perform...I Cor. 12:14-19.
- Each member is equally important...I Cor. 12:21-23.
- There should be no schism or discord among members... I Cor.
12:24-25.
- There is to be a sympathetic interest and mutual care for each
other...I Cor. 12:26-27.
- Bound together as one body in Christ by ties of fellowship....I Cor.
10:17.
- The importance of understanding this is in the fact the church and the
members are to be lights to the world.
- A light that is divided is not well received.
- That a house divided against itself cannot stand.
- One might ask the question as to why is it so important to be a member of this Body of
Christ.
- The body is made up of the saved...Eph. 5:23.
- Called into peace of Christ in one body...Col. 3:15.
- One cannot be subject to Head and united to Christ without being a member of
His body.
- We are reconciled to God in ONE BODY...Eph. 2:16.
- The body is the fullness of Christ ....Eph. 1:23 ; 1:3.
- In this we mean that there is nothing lacking in His body.
- All Spiritual blessings are in Christ.
- One becomes a member of the body of Christ not by votes of the members, nor
by election of a committee, but rather by the obeying of His commands....I Cor.
12:13 ; Acts 2:41--47.
- THE CHURCH AS THE TEMPLE OF GOD.
- This is found in Eph. 2:19.
- It denotes a place where God meets those who worship Him.
- Notice in the O.T.
- God met with His people in the tabernacle...Ex. 25:8-9 ; Lev. 26:11-12 ;
Deut. 12:5 ; 16:2-6.
- The tabernacle was called the temple of the Lord in some places...I
Sam. 1:9 ; 3:3.
- The temple was built by Solomon...II Chron. 7:12-16.
- God's name is recorded there...Ex. 20:24.
- In the N.T.
- The Lord meets with those who are meeting in His name...Matt. 18:20 ;
Rev. 3:8.
- However, the temple of God in the N.T. is not made with stones, but
rather the Christians themselves make up the temple...I Cor. 3:9.
- Christians are the Spiritual Building in which the Spirit of God dwells.
- I Cor. 3:16-17 ; Eph. 2:19-22.
- This building must be built according to God's pattern.
- God's plan...Ex. 25:40 ; I Chron. 28:11-12 ,19 ; Heb. 8:1-5 ; Psa. 127:1 ;
Matt. 15:13.
- God's plan for the N.T. church is found within the confines of the N.T
scriptures.
- Christ and the Apostles and the Prophets are the foundation.
- Isa. 28:16 ; I Cor. 3:11 ; Eph. 2:20.
- Christians are the stones built together into the temple of God.
- Eph. 2:19-22 ; I Peter 2:5.
- This being the case unbelievers and disobedient cannot be stones of the temple
of God... I Peter 2:7-8.
- The strength of the building depends upon the stones being securely cemented
together in peace and Love.
- Eph. 2:21-22 ; Eph. 4:1-3 ,16.
Conclusion:
- What is the Church of Christ?
- It is the called out of Christ.
- It is the house of God.
- It is a kingdom.
- It is a body.
- It is a Temple of God.
- It is vitally important that one be a part of the church, as Christ has purchased it with
His own blood and will save only those who are actively serving Him in His body.