To Save Any Outside The Church (Lesson 1) Series

INTRODUCTION

Outline.

1. To save any outside the church

Remarks.

1. This is lesson one, in the lesson-series entitled: "Things too impossible for God." Our scripture lesson declares: "With men this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible," Matthew 19:26. And Paul wrote: "That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, that we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us,” Hebrews 6:18. It would appear right out that we have a conflict in this lesson. Beloved, we are not arguing, what God can or cannot do: but we are discussing, the Supreme, Divine, and Sovereign will of God. We will not debate, what He has willed or chosen to do: to save, forgive, or impart His favor unto the believer.

2. In this lesson, we will consider how God can't save any outside of the church. Paul wrote: “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body...That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish,” Ephesians 5:23-27. The ark was a type of church. All that were in the ark were saved from the flood. Eight (8) souls were saved by water, 1 Peter 3:20-21. Therefore, all in the church are in the place of safety and salvation. Christ added, “to the church daily those that were being saved,” Acts 2:47. Paul said: “Unto the centurions and to the soldiers: Except these abide in the ship, you cannot be saved,” Acts 27:31. There is safety in the church during the storms of life. Abide in the church! Your captain has navigated this Ship of Zion through many turbulent and violent storms, safely. With this brief introduction, let’s consider the first lesson: “God can't save any outside the church."

BODY OF LESSON

I TO SAVE ANY OUTSIDE THE CHURCH

A. The church of Christ. Paul wrote: “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish,” Ephesians 5:23-27. Summarizing Paul’s words--

1. The husband is the head of the wife like Christ is the head of the church. He is the savior of the body.

2. The saved, therefore, are in the body. The Lord adds the saved to the church, daily all those being saved, Acts 2:47.

3. The body is of Christ, Ephesians 1:22-23.

4. There is one body, the church, Ephesians 4:4-6; Colossians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 1 Corinthians 12:27-28.

5. Therefore, as the body is of Christ; so the church is of Christ, Romans 16:16.

NOTE: Illustrate My house, the house of Lydia, Acts 16:15; Acts 16:40.

B. The “ark” was a type of church. Peter’s discussion of Noah’s ark gives us an understanding that the “ark” was a type of church Observe--

1. Peter wrote: “Which sometime were disobedient when once the longsuffering of God waited in Noah's days, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him,” 1 Peter 3:20-22; Hebrews 1:1-3.

2. First, “God’s...longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing." The Lord allowed Noah 120 years to preach to those of his generation. During this time, he faithfully built an ark for the saving his entire house, Hebrews 11:7.

3. Further, "Wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." Noah and his house went into the ark and were saved by water, Genesis 7:1; Genesis 7:7.

4. Finally, The ark's buoyancy allowed it to be raised above the floodwaters, Genesis 7:17. Noah and his house were saved from the floodwaters because they went into the ark, Genesis 7:12-13. We will revisit this later in the lesson.

C. Church Christ promised. The church Christ built is unique; it is unconquerable; and, it is undenominational. Let’s consider each of these ideas briefly. Observe—