The Church Is His Place
ITim.3:15-16 "But if I tarry l ong, that you mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."
This statement is made to a young pastor of a New Testament Church. It should be clear that this statement and all other such expressions of God's purpose for His people are based upon the logical premise that His people in every age will continue to follow the pattern of discipleship He established when He gave His great commission to that first local church at Jerusalem; as well as to all succeeding churches of like faith and practice. Church history confirms this primitive pattern was closely followed by the vast ma jority of succeeding assembles for some two hundred or more years. The creation of so-called denominations or divisions entailing churches with radically different origins, doctrines or histories would have been inconceivable in a day so close to this simple beginning.
In order to understand the imperative of Paul's statement and make an application to our day, we must define our terms in the simple way they were written and used when Jesus established His assemblies and when Paul wrote to young Timothy urging him to be careful that he knew the truth about church teaching and passed it along correctly to those in his flock. That is the continuing responsibility of every true pastor in every age.
It is not always easy for pastors to continue to contend for the faith in the way Paul sets it out in this letter. (See II Tim. 4:1-4) It might be fair to say the task seems to become increasingly difficult with each
succeeding generation. The pressure to appeal to itching ears has never been stronger. The possibility of those who boldly and fearlessly proclaim the whole truth to be accused of legalism and negativity has never been greater.
It is said that when Wesley sent out young preachers to preach in the countryside he would ask them two questions upon their return. He would first ask if anyone was saved. Then he would ask if anyone became angry. If the answer was no to both questions, he would caution the young man about being in the ministry. He would explain if the gospel was faithfully and forcefully presented that people would either get saved or get mad.
The Greek word ecclesia, from which the English word church used here is derived, could be literally translated assembly. The Greek scholar, Trench, says about this word, "Ecclesia, as all know, was the lawful as- sembly in a free Greek city for all those possessing the rights of citizenship, for the transaction of public affairs. That they were summoned is expressed in the latter part of the word; that they were summoned (called) out of the whole population, as a select portion of it, (neither the populace, nor yet strangers, nor those who had forfeited their civil rights) is expressed in the first part of the word. Both the calling and the calling out are moments to be remembered. ."
The word ecclesia is used more than one-hundred times in the New Testament. Ninety-two times it is clearly used relative to the church as a local body. This usage is as well defined as its application to the legislative assembly to a Grecian free city. In the remaining cases, the word is used either in the generic or institutional sense: referring to local churches in the same way as the word man used generically refers to all men everywhere or the word government refers to the institution of government in any place it might exist. In a few cases it is prospective; in the sense of referring to an assembly that will come together in one place after the Second Coming of Christ.
Simply put, the correct usage of church in our age refers to an assembly of saved, scripturally immersed believers, who agree on the New Testament as their only rule of faith and practice and can assemble together in a particular locality in a particular age to carry out the commands and commission of Christ. Which is to get people saved, baptize them and then teach them to follow the all things He commanded in the Word. This is the only church the Bible speaks of and is the one to which He promised His pres- ence and power until His return.
The New Testament clearly teaches that God's church of the New Testament is very special. That it is local in nature is an obvious truth. The basic meaning of the word and its usage leads to this overwhelming conclusion. In this passage, Paul uses imagery to convey functions of the churches of Jesus Christ. It is spoken of as a little flock, conveying all the intimacy with the Chief Shepherd entailed in that image. If we are really to fully understand and appreciate this particular figure of speech, we must understand the spiritual relationship of the Good Shepherd to His flock as presented in the Old Testament and the gospels as well. All the beauty and assurance of that relationship expressed in the Shepherd's Psalm and in Chapter Ten of the Book of John clearly applies in a very special way to His little flock; His church.
It is spoken of as a family in relationship, with all the close fellowship that figure involves. In this passage the word house could be easily under- stood as household. Since Paul wrote to the pastors and people of local churches, he constantly and clearly advises that we should treat members of our local church as we would treat members of our own family. Because the church is in this sense a real family. The pastor must provide spiritual food for the family. The only acceptable and nourishing diet is the Word of God. That Word is the bread, honey, milk and meat that is absolute essential for the healthy spiritual growth of the church. Just as surely as the children in a family need both formative and corrective discipline, so do the members of the local church. Sometimes children need to be rebuked. Sometimes they need to be exhorted and encouraged by example. Sometimes they need to be punished for their own good and the good of the family. Undisciplined children may become rebels and cause great harm and destruction to them- selves and the family.
The idea of a building is presented here as well, with all the planning, unity and compactness such a structure brings to mind. This figure clearly conveys the idea of a dynamic and continuing spiritual building process. It is spoken of as a continuing building, with all the dynamic such a concrete concept coveys. Jesus is presented as the foundation stone and corner stone of that building in a number of places. (Matt. 16:16-20, Eph. 3:9-15, 4:16) Paul also uses the image of a pillar sitting solidly on this foundation; hold- ing up a body or system of teachings and doctrines. This structural image would be especially meaningful to Timothy and those in the church at Ephesus. The great temple of the goddess Diana had 127 pillars. These pillars were the primary structural support for the building and absolutely necessary in its purpose and function. So it is with truth in the New Testa- ment Church. The word ground upon which the pillars of truth rest suggest a foundation, bulwark or a stay. Without the proper ground and grounding the whole structure of truth will fall.
In its assembling, and it must have the capacity to assemble regularly to be a true church, it provides a place where our Saviour meets together with His people. In its activities, it furnishes a place for those who are saved
and scripturally baptized to give glory to Christ throughout every age. In its stand, it provides the very pillar and support for all the truths of the Word of God. The place where the true faith can be propagated in the fullest sense and contended for until His return. Let us look at what the Word teaches about the purpose and place of church.
THE CHURCH IS THE PLACE OF HIS PRESENCE. That Jesus prom- ised His real and continuing presence to His first assembly and all succeed- ing such assemblies should be beyond dispute. It is clear that all His major utterances on the matter encompass this important concept. "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matt. 16:18) "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt. 18:20) "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have com- manded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matt. 28:20)
We should come together expecting to meet with God and His Son. The presence of great earthly personalities or entertainment figures is not needed in a true house of praise and worship. Methods, programs or gimmicks designed to entertain rather than edify and glorify man rather than God, are not needed. Sensuousness, sensationalism and sentimentalism are not indi- cated in the New Testament as being necessary or permissible parts of one of His assemblies coming together to worship and praise the primary person who is present.
The focus and content of true worship, in the place of His presence, is succinctly and simply stated by our Savior Himself. "God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24) Contrary to much of the accepted wisdom of our day, even among some who call themselves Baptists, spirituality and emotionality do not necessarily equate. Contemporary emphasis upon that which appeals to the emotions (flesh) finds no foundation in the scripture.
But this misunderstanding is not new. The influence of the Pentecostal and Charismatic movement goes back even to my early days in the ministry. I can clearly recall being confused as a young Christian when I heard people speak of how spiritual certain services had been in Baptist churches and meetings. All along it was clear they were basically referring to how the people participating had become emotionally involved and overwhelmed. A service in which all inhibitions had been cast aside in expressing that emo- tion. Churches and services devoid of such emotionality seemed to be automatically classed as second rate, spiritually dry or dead.
I have spent the last five decades in a culture primarily English in nature and among people who are normally very, very reserved in the expres- sion of emotion. Based upon the criteria mentioned above, and my observa- tions through these years, I could be forgiven if I were to conclude that spirituality does not exist in such a culture.
Is it not sad that much of the promotion and advertisement used in contemporary church circles seems to focus upon titillation of the flesh and emotionality? Such seems to assert that the presence and power of super worship leaders and superb music groups will not only bring in the masses of the world and entertain and fulfill them, but also bring about true repentance and salvation. The Name of Jesus and His personal presence scarcely seems to come into play.
But we don't need such demonstrations to prove the presence of God when we come together in one of His assemblies to worship Him in Spirit and in truth. When we come into the presence of Jesus a blessing is guaran- teed. "Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with sing- ing." (Psalm 100:2) Jesus is enough. The desire certain Greeks expressed to Phillip should be our desire when we come together. "The same came there- fore to Phillip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus." (John 12:21)
THE CHURCH IS THE PLACE OF HIS POWER. The power prom- ised and the power absolutely necessary to carry out His plan for man. "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, ..." (Matt. 28:18- 19) This spiritual power for witnessing was first given at Pentecost. "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." (Luke 24:49) (Acts 1:8, See also Acts 2:1-6)
Recently a debate has been raging among certain pastors about the question of this power being effectively confined to the preaching of the gospel within the confines of a scriptural assembly of baptized believers. Some of the assertions on both sides border upon the absurd at times. One extreme seems to wish to confine the power of the Spirit of Christ in a very small box. Another extreme seems to feel that the commission was given toany and all Christians as individuals and perhaps to any number of parachurch organizations; regardless of their connection to: ". .the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. . ." As in most such debates, I am sure the truth lies in between. But I am sure that this truth will always substantiate the scriptural proposition that His local church is the proper place to really appropriate His power for carrying out the commission He gave to His people; who in every age, if they obey His simple and clear cut commands, will find themselves in the fellowship of a Bible-believing, teaching, preaching, New Testament assembly of scripturally immersed believers.
When we gather together we need renewal of this power. A spiritual recharge that prepares us for going out to witness the Word. If we are present with Him and His people in His assembly, we can appropriate this power in prayer. "And when he had considered [the thing], he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gath- ered together praying." (Acts 12:12)
This power can also be appropriated as His people go out into the high- ways and byways with the good news of His death, burial and resurrection. Those who actively participate in a church's efforts to evangelize their com- munity by taking the gospel into the homes of those lost and without Christ can attest to the essentiality of prayer. The concept of prayer partners is not only practical but vital in effective soul winning. How many times we have seen the effectual working of the power of prayer in the soul winning situa- tion? Seeking souls without the power of the Spirit of Christ being brought to bear through heartbroken prayer is too often an exercise futility.
We can appropriate this power through the preaching of the Word. Peter's preaching in the Pentecost experience confirms this. Although the promised presence and power of His Spirit was involved from the very out- set on this great occasion, it is clear in the context of the story that this power was focused and brought to bear through the powerful preaching of God's man for the occasion. The history of revival in every subsequent age con- firms that the power of God comes through the preaching of His Word in the congregation of His people. The apostle Paul phrased it in this manner, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation.." (Ro. 1:16) The writer of the Hebrew letter had this to say, "For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Heb. 4:12)
THE CHURCH IS GOD'S PECULIAR AND PARTICULAR PLACE. "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:14) It is to be a saved, secure, spiritual, separated, sanctified and serving assem- bly of immersed believers. It is to be a purchased, pure, peculiar, particular, preserved, persevering and productive assembly; concerned with the spiri- tual reproduction of itself through the preaching of the Word and the propa- gation and preservation of: " ... the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."
The church's praise and worship is to be peculiar and particular in its content and purpose. All New Testament admonitions and commands rela- tive to praise were directed to New Testament Churches. "Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee." (Heb. 2:12) "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." (Col. 3:6) "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;" (Eph. 5:18-19)
If this is a particular blessing and responsibility given to His churches, it surely follows that care should be exercised in ensuring that such praise and worship falls within the parameters of His commands and instructions. Only such will truly please and glorify Him. Here Paul makes it clear that the praise and worship of the people of God in the assembly of the saints is to be very particular to the scriptures and thus peculiar in its content and purpose. It should not be necessary to conjure up a pseudo praise and wor- ship by methodology and means designed to stir the emotions and entertain the flesh of man when the assembly comes together on the first day of the week. This passage makes it obvious that those who will yield themselves to the control of the Spirit during the week will live a life of praise and worship all week long. Spiritual joy, thankfulness and adoration of God, should then flow like a melody as they assemble in the house of the living
God for corporate praise and worship. He desires to be glorified through the local church. There is no other organization commissioned or ever men- tioned in the New Testament that could be a source of glory and honor for Him. " Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Eph. 3:21) His people should praise Him with their lives all week long by rendering loving and profitable service . "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matt. 5:16)
The young pastor, Timothy, is given a very specific charge in the mat- ter. But the responsibility to ensure the purity and peculiarity of praise and worship in the church clearly flows on to the assembly as well. Any praise and worship that falls outside these scriptural parameters would, obviously, displease the Father and His Son. Praise and worship designed to entertain and to focus upon and glorify man rather than God, robs God and His Son of their glory and is clearly a very grave and serious matter. "For mine own sake, [even] for mine own sake, will I do [it]: for how should [my name] be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another." (Isa. 42:8)
It is to be a separated and sanctified assembly. In the High Priestly prayer our Saviour prayed on the eve of His Passion, He made it crystal clear that His church should ever be an assembly separated and sanctified unto truth. In essence, one might say His Church was sworn unto the " . . truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." His prayer for true spiritual and scriptural unity was based upon this obvious concept. "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John 17:16) Those today who advocate a so- called Christian unity based upon a lowest common denominator of scrip- tural adherence and agreement, ignore the utter centrality of truth in the matter. Those who would plead a pseudo love that would ignore scriptural truth, as a basis for harmony, should realize that a house supported by pillars resting upon such a false foundation will come crashing down at the judgment. (See Matt. 7:21-27)
It is to be a productive and reproductive assembly. "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8) "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." (Acts 2:41-42) "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word." (Acts 8:1) These passages confirm the calling and character of His Church. A passive, inactive and apathetic assembly, will ultimately be re- jected by the Lord. Jesus makes that painfully clear in His last letter to one of His seven churches, Laodicea, in the Book of Revelation: " I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." (Rev. 3:8-9) The true Body of Jesus Christ is to be a living organism; busy about its primary task of getting out the gospel to a lost and dying world, baptizing those who believe and teaching and con- tending for the all things of Jesus Christ.
The old cliches' are still worth considering. "Like a might turtle, moves the Church of God, Brethren are we treading, where we've always trod?" or "Come weal, come woe, our status is quo."
It is to be a pure and persevering assembly. "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." (Eph. 5:26-27) The destiny of His church is sure and sealed. He told us that He would not only be present in it throughout the church age, but that he would preserve His Church in its life and character until He comes again. "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matt. 16:18) The promise of His omnipresence in a church of the living God extends into the ages to come. He is committed to its eternal preservation in purity and perfection.
When we consider these precious truths about the Church that Jesus built, we should praise Him for the privilege of being part of and participating in such a high and holy body!
In review and summary; the Church is the place. It is to be a saved, secure, spiritual, separated, sanctified and serving assembly of immersed believers. It is to be a purchased, pure, peculiar, particular, preserved, perse- vering and productive assembly; concerned with the spiritual reproduction of itself through the preaching of the Word and the propagation and preser- vation of: " ... the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."
Sometimes it seems it would be good to return to the good old days when such truths were freely held and cherished among many; without a great deal of controversy. I know the good old days were not as great and trouble free as some of the older generation might remember. Just this week I shared with my teenage grandson about my first car; a 1937 Chevrolet Coupe. I really did get it from a little old lady school teacher. Just a few thousand miles and mint condition. I said, "They don't make them like that anymore!" I then thought, "I'm sure glad they don't. No shocks, power brakes, power steering, air conditioning, radio, CD, etc., etc”
But we sometimes do long for a return to the old paths and ways of the Word of God. A time and a culture when real love, kindness, loyalty and obedience were not only part and parcel of life in His churches, but also in the culture in which they existed. We know God's promise to those who faithfully contend for the faith and uphold the truth in His church is still the same today, "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where [is] the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." (Jer. 6:16) The church is still the place for those who will serve and glorify Him in it today.
