021. Church, The Glorious
021. Church, The Glorious
21 THE GLORIOUS CHURCH
INTRODUCTION None but the New Testament church entit led to th is name and only as it continu es faithful to God I. lT HAS A GLORIOUS HEAD-CHRIST (Colossians 1:18) 1. Christ said, " I will build MY church." It is his.
2. The head remains the same and the BODY, the church, must be the same as in New Testament times. (a) Head and bod y must be in HARMONY. (b) This imp lies unity with all members.
3. Christ has not surr end ered his authority to man.
(a) He would th en cea se to be the head. (b) His authority ONLY is to be recognized.
4. He is he ad over all thing s to the church. (Ephesians 1:22.) II. IT HAS GLORIOUS NAMES 1. The head had AUTHORITY to name it.
2. It is called: church of God, body of Christ, kingdom of heaven, house of God, churches of Christ. (1 Timothy 3:5; Ephesians 1:23; Ephesians 4:12;
1 Corinthians 3:15; Romans 16:16.) (a) These all show divine ORIGIN, RELATIONSHIP and divine WISDOM. (b) These all add GLORY to the head as the head adds glory to th e body.
3. Denominational names are blots on the fair name of Christ.
(a) They give hon or to human agenc ies and men . (b) They perpetuate organic division. (1 Corinthians 1:12-13.) (c) Without distinctive names there cou ld be no distinctive organ ization. (d) Modern denominationalism would be impossible without the modern names.
Ill. IT HAS A GLORIOUS WORK 1. It expresses God’s great PLAN and PURPOSE for the redemption of man.
(a) The manifold wisdom of God is made known through ·the church. (Ephesians 3:10.) (b) Its mission is God-ordained and spirit-guided .
2. Everything that its members do, that they should do, gives glory to God. (1 Corinthians 10:31.) (a) Glorify God in our bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:20.) (b) Glorify God in speaking. (1 Peter 4:1 I.) 3. United, sympathetic work is demanded by the head .
(a) Division is disastrous for good results. (b) Five things hinder the work now: 1. Denominational NAMES 2. Denominational CREEDS 3. Denominational AUTHORITIES 4. Denominational ORDINANCES 5. Denominational TESTS OF FELLOWSHIP.
4. All our glory must be in the church . (Ephesians 3:21.) IV. IT HAS A GLORIOUS DESTINY 1. It is finally taken as the Bride of the Lamb . (Revelation 21:9.) 2. To be presented as a pure virgin to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:2.) 3. The kingdom to be delivered to God. (1 Corinthians 15:24.) 4. Gathered with the spirit s of the ju st. (Hebrews 12:22-23.)
CONCLUSION All other churches shall be destroyed. (Matthew 15:13.)