The Church: The Body of Christ
A true church is a supernatural and divine community of renewed and inwardly united believers, characterized by its spiritual essence.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that the universal Church is the body of Christ and the bride of the Lamb, serving as the habitation of God through the Spirit. He describes the local church as a community of redeemed individuals, a minority group on earth, and a representation of the Invisible God. Tozer warns against viewing churches merely as projects or works, asserting that a true church is a supernatural entity that descends from the original church in Jerusalem. He highlights that the spiritual essence of a church is unique to a group of renewed believers, while its social aspects are secondary and can be imitated by any organization. The sermon calls for a deeper understanding of the church's divine nature and purpose.
Text
The universal Church is the body of Christ, the bride of the Lamb, the habitation of God through the Spirit, the pillar and ground of the truth. The local church is a community of ransomed men, a minority group, a colony of heavenly souls dwelling apart on the earth, a division of soldiers on a foreign soil, a band of reapers, working under the direction of the Lord of the harvest, a flock of sheep following the Good Shepherd, a brotherhood of like-minded men, a visible representative of the Invisible God. It is most undesirable to conceive of our churches as Works, or Projects.
If such words must be used, then let them be understood as referring to the earthly and legal aspect of things only.
A true church is something supernatural and divine, and is in direct lineal descent from that first church at Jerusalem. Insofar as it is a church it is spiritual; its social aspect is secondary and may be imitated by any group regardless of its religious qualities or lack of them. The spiritual essence of a true church cannot be reproduced anywhere but in a company of renewed and inwardly united believers.
Sermon Outline
- The Universal Church
- The Local Church
- Characteristics of a True Church
- Supernatural and Divine
- Direct Lineal Descent from the First Church at Jerusalem
- Spiritual Essence Cannot be Reproduced
Key Quotes
“It is most undesirable to conceive of our churches as Works, or Projects.” — A.W. Tozer
“A true church is something supernatural and divine, and is in direct lineal descent from that first church at Jerusalem.” — A.W. Tozer
“The spiritual essence of a true church cannot be reproduced anywhere but in a company of renewed and inwardly united believers.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- A church should be understood as a spiritual entity rather than a social or legal institution.
- A true church can only be reproduced in a company of inwardly united believers.
- The local church should strive to embody the characteristics of the universal Church.