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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (28-1-1996
Guisborough Evangelical Church)
Having explained how only the
Gospel can bring men together in any real depth and power, Paul now goes on to
tell us more about the privileges and responsibilities as people of God. This
epistle has some wonderful pictures of the Church. He has already described it
as the Body of Christ of which Christ is the head (Ephesians 1:23). And at the
end of the epistle he uses the picture of the Bride of Christ, with Christ as
the bridegroom (Ephesians 5:23).
Now three other pictures of the Church (i) the Kingdom of God and believers are citizens of it, (ii) the Family or Household of God and believers are members, (iii) the Temple in which God dwells and believers are living stones. Very important to realize who we are, to learn the glories and privileges of being God’s people, to know our high calling and realize what we possess. Solves many problems in the Christian Church if Christians realize these things. See trials and problems in very different way if we did. The New Testament epistles constantly urge us to see ourselves as we are in Christ, to see what we have and how we should live.
No longer foreigners and
aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people (Ephesians 2:19), i.e. the
people of God, those in Christ, are in God’s Kingdom, are no longer living on
a passport, they have a birth certificate. They belong. God has established new
international country ruled by God. Replaced the Old Testament people of Israel
as His special people, and Jews and Gentiles belong to it on equal terms.
Citizens are free and secure. No longer have rootless life as they did outside
of Christ. But have a stability and sense of belonging as part of God’s new
people.
A Kingdom that cannot be shaken
and that will have no end. And if we are saved by God’s grace and submitted to
Christ’s kingship, we are citizens in the kingdom. Important to realize we are
part of people of God, a very distinct grouping. The Christian is taken out of
the world. Rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the
kingdom of the Son He loves (Colossians 1:13). Separated people, not like
others, found all over the world in many nations.
This does not mean we can adopt
a superior ‘better than you’ attitude. But we are different, and meant to be
different c.f. a Scotsman is never more conscious that he is a Scotsman than
when he lives in England! So with a Christian. Common allegiance to a ruler, to
laws, way of life and to one another – a special bond with others in the same
kingdom.
Brought us many privileges. We
are under the rule of the one who is the king of kings. Our true home is heaven.
Only pilgrims and strangers down here. Blessed with all spiritual blessings in
Him. Right of access to ear of the King who rules universe and can plead our
cause, be sure of His protection and resources available. Men of God, when hard
pressed, are sure of that protection. The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe (Proverbs 18:10). The Lord is a
stronghold in times of trouble (Psalms 9:9). If God is for us, who can be
against us (Romans 8:31). Cannot get more security than that, or be in safer
place than that.
Then with the privileges come
the responsibilities of citizenship in kingdom. Live as members of the kingdom.
Represent our kingdom and country among men. They will judge the kingdom by the
lives of its citizens. We are in the world but not of it. Different laws and
principles govern our lives and that should be evident. Be holy, because I am
holy (1 Peter 1:16). Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel
of Christ (Philippians 1:27). We should be concerned with the defence of the
kingdom: Be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a
reason for the hope that is in you (1Peter 3:15). And we should be concerned
to see the confines of the kingdom spread and expand, and hence we should pray Thy
kingdom come.
Members of God’s household.
Children in God’s family. Not there originally, but adopted by His grace
into the family. No universal fatherhood of God – though widely believed and
constantly preached. Sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians
3:26). Once we are accepted in Christ, we become brothers and sisters in God’s
family. “Brethren”, i.e. brothers and sisters, is commonest word for
Christians in the New Testament. Suggests close relationship, affection, care,
support.
The head of the family is the
Father, who cares. Described in the Sermon on the Mount – He who knows all
that we need – food, clothing and all daily concerns, therefore we do not need
to worry like everyone else does. God’s loving interest in each one of us was
shown in Christ’s ministry. Despite the crowds who thronged Him, He always had
time for the individual – Zacchaeus, the widow who lost her only son, the
woman who was a sinner, the blind man.
Amazing that the God who made everything from nothing, controls all, from eternity to eternity, to whom the nations are a drop in the bucket – He is our Father, interested and concerned. How we need to live as sons and not servants, and rob ourselves of privileges. God has a personal interest. Never too small or unimportant that we are forgotten.
“O
what peace we often forfeit,
O
what needless pain we bear”
What about the responsibilities of family membership. To show forth the family likeness. Behaviour of the child should reflect the teaching of the home. The child proclaims the parent. Hence Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16). So next time you are in doubt about the action we should take, simply ask “Is that sort of thing worthy of the son of such a father? Is it consistent with family honour and standards? Is it worthy of the Father I represent before men?”
Now the Church is likened to a building, especially a
Temple. There had been a Temple – Solomon’s, Zerubbabel’s and finally
Herod’s – for 1000 years, and it was the focal point of Israel’s worship.
Here God was present and manifested Himself (Exodus 40:34f; 1 Kings 8). Now the
new people of God are to have a temple and they themselves are to be the temple
where God dwelt. Both individual Christian is a Temple, because your body is
a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), and the Church as a whole
is a temple, because you yourselves (plural) are God’s temple and
that God’s spirit dwells in you (1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16).
Then the apostle gives us details of this temple -
foundation and cornerstone, structure of its individual stones, and whole
purpose behind the temple. Firstly there is a foundation. Nothing is more
important than a solid stable foundation. The foundation of the apostles and
prophets – two groups with teaching role in the early Church. The apostles
were inspired teachers, organs of divine revelation, speaking with God’s
authority. They were especially called and chosen, and consisted of the Twelve
plus Paul and James. The teachers (prophets) were associated with the apostles.
Teachers had special revelation, direct message from God. The order suggests New
Testament prophets (though some also include Old Testament prophets).
In practical terms, the Church was built on New Testament
scriptures. This was the Church’s foundation documents. As a foundation is
laid once for all, so the New Testament scriptures and their truth cannot be
changed or added to or modified by people today. The Church stands or falls by
loyal dependence on foundation truths.
Our doctrinal basis is an expression of these foundation
truths, and in a day when the call is to unite with all and sundry, and very
often Christian truth is vaguely defined, our position regarding unity must be
based on adherence to these foundation truths. Never start with unity. Always
start with truth. Else could end up with false and spurious unity.
Then there is the cornerstone, which is part of the
foundation. Helps to hold building steady and keeps it in line. Binds the whole
structure together. It is at the corner and everything is supported by it and
welds all together. Jerusalem Temple had massive cornerstones. Archeologists
have found one from the southern wall of the temple, which is almost 40 feet
long.
In the new temple, Christ is the chief cornerstone. He is
the stone the builders rejected which has become the capstone (Mark
12:10). As the cornerstone, the Lord unites the church and causes it to grow.
Unless believers are securely united to Christ, the church’s unity will
disintegrate and there will be no more growth. No unity or growth apart from
Him. It is our relationship to Him and dependence on Him that matters. He is
central and He is vital. Do I know Him? Am I in a vital relationship with Him?
Then the structure is made up of individual stones. In
Him you too are being built together. Believers are the individual stones.
Gradually taken and added. God lays one living stone on another and so the walls
are gradually being built. Not yet complete till the day of the Lord. In each
generation God quarries, chooses and places stones in right place, having
shaped, chipped and chiselled them.
So the temple with its foundation, cornerstone and
growing walls is being built. Why? To become a dwelling in which God lives by
His Spirit. To be God’s dwelling place, or home, on earth. God does not
manifest Himself in manmade temple but in His people.
Is God seen in us? Do we give the impression to outsiders that we are the dwelling place of God? When visitors come to this church, do they get the impression that God is here, or is it just a building full of religious people going through various pious motions?
Glorious picture of church. Kingdom ruled by the king of
kings. Family belonging to loving heavenly father. Growing temple where God
manifests Himself. Either in or outside this people of God. The test is
relationship to Christ. If you belong to Him, you are in His kingdom, family and
temple. No intermediate position.
Do you belong to God’s people? Appearance only or really belong? Real and living interest in Christ? Know in heart the truths spoken of Sunday by Sunday? Or all remote and distant and foreign? Does His Spirit bear witness with your spirit that you are a child of God?
