THE CHURCH COMPARED TO A MOTHER
Text: Gal 4:22-31 (v. 26)
Introduction: The capital city of those who are justified by faith
is the heavenly Jerusalem.
Paul had pointed the Galatian believers to Christ.
Now false teachers had come in trying to distract the believers
from Paul’s doctrine to their Judaizing false ways.
Their motives are not pure. They are self-seeking.
Paul warns that the wrong crowd almost always wants a following.
They seek it by hook or crook.
Paul sincerely desired that Christ be formed in these believers
(Eph. 4:13; Col. 1:28).
Ephesians 4:13, "Till we all come in the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man,
unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:"
Colossians 1:28, "Whom we preach, warning every man,
and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every
man perfect in Christ Jesus:"
Fast forward to Gal. 4:22-28. Two sons were born to Abraham:
Ishmael by the bondwoman Hagar
because of a scheme,
Isaac by the freewoman/wife Sarah
because of a promise.
Now Paul begins to explain a deep spiritual truth. Two women = two covenants
Hagar (rock/Mt. Sinai/earthly Jerusalem) represents the law.
Sarah represents grace. The capital city of those justified by faith in the Heavenly Jerusalem. It is the mother of all believers Jew and Gentile (Gal. 4:26).
Bible scholar William MacDonald, True believers are born not of the will of man nor
of the will of the flesh, but of God [John 1:13]. It is not natural descent that counts, but divine
miraculous birth by faith in the Lord Jesus.
It’s worth reminding ourselves of the extreme relevance of all this. Many people look at the issues Paul is passionate about here and they just yawn. They say, "Paul, you are dealing with theological speculation. I’ve got other problems. My marriage is in trouble. I can’t pay my bills. I’ve got a lot of personal problems. You would do me much more good by teaching me about those things than going on and on with your theology about being right with God." But Paul would respond, "The most important thing in your life is being right with God. If that isn’t right, than nothing else really matters. If that is right, God will bless you and teach you about your marriage, your money, and your personal problems. Regarding the solutions to our day-to-day problems, Jesus said seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)
___________David Guzik
Now to the subject at hand: THE CHURCH COMPARED TO A MOTHER.
Theme: As God is the believer’s Father, so the Church is his Mother.
I. A Mother Is The Wife Of A Husband
A. Every godly woman that is a mother can show who is, or was, her husband.
B. The Church is the spouse and wife of Christ.
1. Isa. 54:5 <---
2. Romans 7:4 <---
C. If the Church is not our Mother, then God is not our Father.
II. A Mother Is One that Bears And Brings Forth Children.
A. The Church bears and brings forth children to Christ.
B. Believers are called sons and daughters, and children of Zion (Ps. 87:5a <---)
1. Ps. 87 speaks prophetically of the nature and glory of the Church.
2. v. 5, "And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her:
and the highest himself shall establish her."
3. Hebrews 12:22-23, "But ye are come unto mount Sion,
and unto the city of the living God,
the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an
innumerable company of angels,
To the general assembly and church
of the firstborn, which are written in heaven,
and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits
of just men made perfect [spiritual natives of Zion
per Jamesion, Fausett, and Brown],"
4. In the later books of the Old Testament this name was sometimes used
( Psa 87:2; 149:2; Isa 33:14; Joe 2:1) to denote Jerusalem in general, and sometimes
God’s chosen Israel ( Psa 51:18; 87:5).
In the New Testament it is used sometimes to denote the Church of God
( Hbr 12:22), and sometimes the heavenly city ( Rev 14:1).
_______Easton’s Bible Dictionary
III. Godly Mothers Give Good Counsel And Instruction To their Children.
A. Prov. 31:1, The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his
mother taught him.
B. illustration:
1. (2 Tim. 3:14) Eunice--good mother to Timothy.
2. She had taught the child the Holy Scriptures.
3. She had reared him religiously.
C. Likewise the Church universal must give good counsel/instruction
to all her children.
1. not only fed by the Church, but well taught
2. Prov 1:8, My son, hear the instruction of thy father,
and forsake not the law of thy mother:
3. The Church must teach only the doctrine received
from the mouth of Christ.
a. His discipline, b. His laws, c. His Holy Word
IV. We could Go On And On.
A. Children obey and reverence their mothers.
B. Mothers love and tenderly care for their children.
C. Weak and poor are as dear as the strongest and richest (Ja. 2:2-5 <---).
D. Mother and Church are allowed by the Father to chastise and correct
1. the heady and proud
2. misbehavior that dishonors the Father
3. misbehavior that reproaches the family (1 Cor. 5:5 <---)
V. Mother And Church Are Honored When:
A. Children humbly and faithfully submit to:
1. good order.
2. corrective discipline.
3. be at the appointed place at the appointed time.
4. being peaceful, cooperative, selfless,
loving, tolerant, and kind.
B. How pleasant it is for believers to dwell together in unity
(paraphrase of Psalm 133:1).
Conclusion: Recapping the main thoughts:
A mother is the wife of a husband.
A mother is one that bears and brings forth children.
Godly mothers give good counsel.
Mothers and Church should be honored.
Poem--A Love Cake For Mother (and by extension the Church)
1 can of "obedience"
Several pounds of "affection"
1 pint of "neatness"
Some holiday, birthday, and every day surprises
1 can of runing errands (the willing brand)
1 box of powdered "Get up when I should"
1 box of "Keep sunny all day long"
1 can of pure "Thanksgiving"
Mix well, bake in a hearty, warm oven and
serve to mother [/Church] everyday.
She ought to have it in BIG SLICES.
___Selected
