THE TIE THAT BINDS US
(Philippians 2:1-2)
“…if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, [2] fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”
These days we hear many quotes about what is wrong with the Church of our Lord. Yet, there are very few quotes about what is right with the Church. This perplexes and frustrates me. The Scripture tells us that God designed a place that would serve His purposes; this place is called the Church.
*The Church is purchased by the blood of Christ.
(Acts 20:28; Paul instructs the preacher in Ephesus) – “…take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”
*The Church is here [for us] to encourage one another through corporate gathering of worship.
(Colossians 3:15-16) – “…let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. [16] Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:11) – “Therefore, comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”
*The Church is here [for us] to testify of its individual redemption.
(1 Peter 2:9-10) – “…you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”
* The Church is here to proclaim the complete truth of God unto a lost people living in a lost world.
(Mark 16:15-16) – “…Go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. [16] He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but, he who does not believe will be condemned.”
(1 Corinthians 2:1-2) – “…brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
Let’s talk a little more specifically about the Church – Have you ever noticed how different the individual members of the same family can be? One child may be melancholy, while another is a live wire. One may be especially gifted in music; and, another – who has no interest in music at all – may excel in sports. In some cases they look nothing like each other, or even their parents. Yet, the members of a family share a bond stronger than their differences.
Much in the same way the Church – the Body of Christ (as Scripture puts it) – develops unique relationships. There are various approaches to worship; some are traditional, and some are what we call ‘contemporary.’ However, the most important thing that we must retain our focus upon is not the superficial that make us different. We must keep our focus upon those things that bind us together…And, that must be that were are ALL saved and enabled with divine grace by the same Lord and Savior – Jesus Christ the Righteous!
However, it would be a tragedy for me to leave this thought in such ambiguity. There are some things that are absolute; that have stood the test of time and culture. There are Biblical truths that MUST be preached, taught, believed, inwardly accepted, and outwardly obeyed to with hearts and lives who love the Lord their God with their all-in-all! These Biblical doctrines are unalterable; they cannot be compromised in any way. These are non-negotiable. Yield on any one point, and the Church ceases to be the true Church of our Lord. I would like to share 5 foundational truths that truly distinguish us from the false Church and its un-Biblical doctrines (and, there IS a false Church, false gospel, and false doctrine today).
I. A HIGH, REVERENT VIEW and ATTITUDE TOWARD GOD and HIS EARTHLY WORKS (Church).
(Isaiah 6:3, 5) – “…one cried to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!’” [5] “So I said: ‘Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips; and, I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.’”
(Psalms 72:19) – “…blessed be His glorious name forever! And, let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.”
(Revelation 4:8) – “The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!’”
It is essential that a Church perceive itself as a body of believers designed for the glory of God! Unfortunately, many Churches today have deviated from this priority, and developed a human focus: meeting man’s felt needs. Instead of faithfully proclaiming God’s sufficient Word to direct people’s minds toward God, many of these leaders respond to superficial needs with temporary solutions like psychology, self-esteem, entertainment, or a myriad of other diversions. Friends, we MUST take God seriously and exalt Him! Yes, we are to reach out to people with the love of Christ. Yet, it is imperative that God truly be the focus of our worship and our life!
II. THE ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY of the WORD of GOD GOVERNS ALL TRUE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
God reveals Himself primarily through the pages of Scripture; this is why we MUST uphold it as our absolute authority. Because we believe Scripture is true, we must proclaim it with conviction and without compromise or apology. The Bible makes bold claims; and, Christians who believe it ought to affirm it boldly!
(John 17:17) – “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth.”
(2 Peter 1:19-21) – “…we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; [20] knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, [21] for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
(2 Timothy 3:15-17) – “…from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
If the Bible is true, then it is also authoritative. As divinely revealed truth, it carries the full weight of God's own authority. If you claim to believe the Bible at all, you ultimately must bow to its authority. That means making it the final arbiter of truth; the rule by which every other opinion is evaluated.
III. THE REALITY of SOUND, BIBLICAL DOCTRINE is CONSCIENTIOUSLY MAINTAINED.
If you have a high view of God, and are committed to Him, you will obey His Word; and, the content of God’s Word is sound doctrine. Many Christians today are vague – at best – when it comes to Biblical doctrine.
We need to have a practical grip upon what we believe about Biblical truths found in Scripture (which is Biblical doctrine). Having truths that we believe and govern our lives by is imperative to living the practical, Christian life and life-style. We need truths that we can hold on to; truths about God, life and death, heaven and hell, man and sin, redemption through Christ, the ministry of the Holy Spirit and angels, the believer’s position in Christ, and Satan and his realm.
(2 Timothy 4:2-4) – “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; [4] and, they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
(Titus 2:1-5) – “…as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: [2] that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; [3] the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things – [4] that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, [5] to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the Word of God may not be blasphemed.”
(Titus 1:9) – “…holding fast the faithful Word as he has been taught, that he [the bishop; ref. v. 7] may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”
Simply, Folks – God’s people need solid doctrine to build their lives upon!
IV. THE DESIRE for PERSONAL, HEART-HOLINESS MUST BE an INDIVIDUAL PASSION and GOAL.
We must draw lines when it comes to personal holiness, and the importance of being careful what we expose ourselves and our children to. We dare not lower our standards to those of this sin-filled world! Christians are called to live a pure life; and, we cannot compromise that!
(1 Peter 1:13-16) – “Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; [14] as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; [15] but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, [16] because it is written: ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’”
(2 Corinthians 7:1) – “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
- (Andrew Murray) – “Just as a servant knows that he must first obey his master in all things, so the surrender to an implicit and unquestionable obedience must become the essential characteristic of our lives.”
- (Charles Wesley) – “I shall be satisfied with Thy likeness – satisfied, satisfied!”
We have covered the 5 un-shakable, un-wavering, and un-ashamed absolutes that make up the true Church of the Lord Jesus: a high, reverent view & attitude of God, the absolute authority of the Word of God, the reality of sound doctrine, and the desire for personal holiness. Finally, let’s notice…
V. THE EXISTENCE of BIBLICAL, SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED and REVERED.
1) A Church MUST understand AND remember that Christ is the ONLY and true Head of the Church.
(Ephesians 1:22) – “…He [God the Father] put all things under His [Jesus] feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the Church…”
(Ephesians 4:15) – “…speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ…”
2) Jesus mediates His rule in the Church through Godly leaders.
(1 Thessalonians 5:13-14) – “…esteem them [leaders in the Church] very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. [14] Now, we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.”
(Hebrews 13:7, 17) – “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the Word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.” [v. 17] “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive; for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy, and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
Throughout the years as pastor, I have had the awesome responsibility and privilege of being in leadership as an elder. It has mostly been in the role as preacher and pastor. I have been one among many. While there are variations in the giftedness of spiritual leaders, there is still an equality of spiritual authority among those the Bible calls elders or overseers. Such spiritual leadership is essential to the Church of Jesus Christ! This is why it is VITAL for the Church to be committed to training and obeying Godly leaders.
- In 1773, the young pastor of a poor Church in Wainsgate, England was called to a large and influential Church in London. John Fawcett was a powerful preacher and writer; and, these skills had brought him this opportunity. However, as the wagons were being loaded with the Fawcetts’ few belongings, their people came for a tearful farewell. During the good-byes, Mary Fawcett (John’s wife) cried-out to her husband: “John, I cannot bear to leave!” To which, John replied: “Nor can I! We shall remain here with OUR PEOPLE!” The wagons were enthusiastically un-loaded, and this pastoral couple stayed. John Fawcett spent his entire 54 year ministry in Wainsgate. Out of that experience, Fawcett wrote the beautiful hymn – ‘Blest Be the Tie that Binds.’
- (Thomas Aquinas) – “Hold firmly that our faith is identical with that of the ancients. Deny this, and you dissolve the unity of the Church.”
There is room for diversity within the Body of Christ. Yet, every true Church is united by certain non-negotiables (the true, Biblical tenants of Christian orthodoxy).
