HOW IMPORTANT IS CHRIST TO THE CHURCH?
- INTRODUCTION:
- SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians
2:14-20 ; Ephesians
5:23-30
- CHRIST SAID SPEAKING TO PETER, Matthew
16:18 = "
And upon this rock I will
build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against
it."
- CHRIST WAS MORE IMPORTANT TO THE CHURCH
THAN THE BUILDING OF IT.
- THE CHURCH WAS OF SPECIAL IMPORTANCE
TO CHRIST.
- Christ did not just build it and
leave it to man to do with as he pleased.
- Christ was (and is) involved, or
concerned, with it in every way.
- Study with me for a few minutes just
how important the Church is to Christ.
- DISCUSSION:
- CHRIST CREATED IT. Ephesians
2:14-15 = "For he is our peace, who made
both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition, having
abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments
contained in ordinances; that he might created in himself of
the two one new man, so making peace."
- CHRIST WAS THE CHIEF CORNER STONE.
Ephesians
2:20 = "Being built upon the foundation of
the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief
corner stone."
- CHRIST PURCHASED IT. Acts
20:28 = "Take heed unto yourselves, and to
all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops,
to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own
blood."
.. Ephesians
5:25 = "Husbands, love your wives, even as
Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it."
- CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF IT. Ephesians
1:22 = "And he put all things in subjection
under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the
church."
- CHRIST LOVES IT. Ephesians
5:25 = "Husbands, love your wives, even as
Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it."
- CHRIST IS ITS SAVIOR. Ephesians
5:23 = "For the husband is the head of the
wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself
the saviour of the body."
- CHRIST CHERISHES AND NOURISHES IT.
Ephesians
5:29 = "For no man ever hated his own flesh;
but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church."
COMMENT: CHERISH
is to hold dear, treat with tenderness. Nourish is to feed,
to rear, to train up.
- CHRIST CLEANS AND SANCTIFIES IT. Ephesians
5:26 = "That he might sanctify it, having
cleansed it by the washing of water with the world."
- We are made one with Christ in baptism.
Galatians
3:27 = "For as many of you as have been
baptized into Christ have put on Christ."
..
Acts
22:16 = "And now why tarriest thou? Arise,
and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name
of the lord."
- Sanctified is that relationship with
God into which men enter by faith in Christ. Acts
26:18 = "To open their eyes, and to turn
them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto
God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance
among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."
..
I Corinthians 6:11 = :And such were some of
you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit
of our God."
- CONCLUSION:
- JUST HOW IMPORTANT IS THE CHURCH TO
CHRIST? [It was the body into which the Son of God could reconcile
man to God.]
Luke
19:10 = "For the Son of man came to seek
and to save that which was lost."
Acts
2:47 = "
And the Lord added to the
church daily such as should be saved."
Ephesians
2:16 = "And might reconcile them both in
one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity
thereby."
- That one body is the church. Ephesians
5:23 = "For the husband is the head of
the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being
himself the saviour of the body."
- That body is sanctified and cleansed
by Christ. Ephesians
5:26 = "That he might sanctify it, having
cleansed it by the washing of water with the word."
- THE IMPORTANT OF THE CHURCH TO CHRIST
IS EMPHASIZED BY:
- The fact that He created it. [Ephesians
2:14; Matthew
16:18].
- The fact that He purchased it with
His own blood. [Acts
20:28].
- The fact that He has cleansed, sanctified,
nourished, and cherished it. For one purpose only to house
those that are to be saved. [Acts
2:47].
- THE CHURCH IS IMPORTANT TO CHRIST FOR
HE WANTS IT PRESENTED TO HIM AS A CHASTE VIRGIN.
Ephesians
5:27 = "That he might present the church
to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or
any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
QUESTIONS:
- Will He so find the church, when
he comes to have it presented to himself?
- Are you a spot, wrinkle, or blemish
in His sight?
- Will you remove these sinful stains
from you life to please the Lord?
CONSIDER: We
know how important the church is to Christ, but just how important
is the church to you?
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