INTRODUCTION
Outline.
3. The Leadership’s: Divine Assurance
Introductory Remarks.
1. The final lesson in this Series: “Divine Call to Leadership,” will be “The Leadership’s Divine Assurance.”
2. We will investigate the elders at Ephesus’ divine assurance. Paul concludes his assurance unto them: “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which can build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified,” Acts 20:32. The beloved apostle now encourages them and grants unto them a divine assurance: an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
3. What a tremendous blessing awaits these men’s divine call to leadership. The Holy Ghost not only called them but now assures them that God will, by His grace, build them up and grant unto them “an inheritance” with all the saints. Indeed, their “labor will not be in vain in the Lord,” 1 Corinthians 15:58. With this brief introduction, let’s consider the last lesson.
BODY OF LESSON
III THE LEADERSHIP’S: DIVINE ASSURANCE
A. Paul’s commendation: “And now, brethren, I commend you to God.” There were no more capable hands; the apostle could have placed these loving elders. He knew to commend them unto God. In their tremendous responsibility, he commends them to God. He knew the burden of leadership and whose hands he was committed to. Consider...
1. Paul wrote: “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he can keep that which I have committed unto him against that day,” 2 Timothy 1:12.
2. Peter wrote: “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator,” 1 Peter 4:19.
3. Jesus said: “I am with you always, even unto the end of the ages,” Matthew 28:20.
4. The Hebrew writer penned: “For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me,” Hebrews 13:5-6. Notice:
a. We need not fear what man can do unto us, Psalms 56:4; Psalms 118:6.
b. If God is for us:
1) No one can be against us, Romans 8:31-32.
2) No one can accuse us, Romans 8:33-34.
3) No one can alienate us, Romans 8:35-39.
c. To understand these promises more fully, obtain the lesson below.
NOTE: Download our lesson: “If God be for us,” at SermonCentral.com.
B. His source: “And to the word of His grace.” He now commits their trust in God and the word of his grace. The word will guide all their difficulties, build them up, and give them an inheritance among all the sanctified. If it is followed, they cannot stray or fail in their work and oversight of the church. Notice:
1. Paul commends them to God, to provide for them, to take care of them, and to supply all their needs, and encourages them to cast all their care upon him, with an assurance that he cared for them, 1 Peter 4:6-7. Consider...
a. First, Matthew Henry wrote: “Whatever you want, go to God, let your eye be ever towards him, and your dependence upon him, in all your straits and difficulties; and let this be your comfort, that you have a God to go to, a God all-sufficient,” Page 469.
b. Further, He continues: “I commend you to God, that is, to his providence, and to the protection and care of that. It is enough that, from whomsoever, we are separated. Still, we have God nigh unto us,” Page 469.
c. Finally, James wrote: “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you,” James 4:8. God has taken the first step in reconciling us unto Himself; he sent Jesus. His love caused this gift of grace, John 3:16; Romans 5:8-10. Notice:
1) The love of Christ constraineth us, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15.
2) God has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21.
3) We have Him because He first loved us, 1 John 4:19.
2. He commends them to the word of grace, which will grant them comfort and hope through their faithfulness to the: “Gospel of the grace of God,” Acts 20:24.
a. His word is spirit and life, John 6:63; Hebrews 4:12.
b. His word is truth, John 17:17; John 18:37.
c. His word provides eternal life, John 6:66-68.
d. His word, the truth can’t be compromised, Galatians 4:16; 2 Corinthians 13:8.
e. His word, the truth shall stand forever, Matthew 24:35; 1 Peter 1:23-25.
3. He commends them to the word of Christ's promise, which he spoke to his disciples when he sent them forth, the commission he gave them, with the assurance that he would be with them “always to the end of the world,” Matthew 28:20.
C. Its purpose: “Able to build you up.” The word will strengthen, lead, guide, encourage, and sanctify them and all believers. Observe; the word shall build them up in the most holy faith. Here, he commends them to the word of God's grace for their spiritual blessings, which will be needed for the work ahead. They had received the gospel of the grace of God and are now entrusted to preach and guard it. Consider, the word is given...
1. For their edification: “It is able (the Spirit of grace working with it and by it) to build you up,” that they might “Build themselves on the most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,” Jude 20. Everything should be done for edification, 1 Corinthians 14:26, Romans 14:19, and 1 Thessalonians 5:11.
2. For their strengthening: “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend...And to know the love of Christ... Now unto Him that can do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen,” Ephesians 3:16-21.
a. The elders and saints, while in this world, must continue to grow in grace and knowledge, to continue in the grace with God, 2 Peter 3:17-18; Romans 5:1-2.
b. It is still able to build them up, 1 Peter 2:1-3.
3. Their work of leadership: “To equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”
a. It will continue: “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.”
b. For the reason: “That we henceforth are no more children... carried about by the sleight of men...but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things,” Ephesians 4:11-17. The leadership’s work is to build up the church so that it might stand fast in the faith.
c. What great work is given to the leadership, ministership, and membership of the church of Christ? That is, to evangelize the world and to build up the saints.
D. The leadership’s assurance: “To give you an inheritance.” Paul reminds them their labor will not be in vain in the Lord. They, too, have an inheritance, which the Chief Shepherd shall give them at His appearance, 1 Peter 5:4; Hebrews 13:20-21. The Lord shall preserve them for...
1. Their inheritance and sanctification: “It can give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified,” Acts 20:32.
2. The word of God’s grace grants us divine knowledge and has brought both “life and immortality to light by the gospel,” 2 Timothy 1:10; Titus 1:1-3; Titus 2:11-14.
3. The word of God could save and sanctify the elders and saints at Ephesus. It has the power to sustain them through the challenges that lay ahead. They can be confident.
a. That God: “That cannot lie, has grant unto them eternal life; which He has made manifest, through the preaching of Christ;” Titus 1:1-3.
b. That, the Holy Spirit of grace; has been given to them (the elders and the saints at Ephesus); and unto all that obey Him, Acts 19:1-7; Acts 5:32; Acts 2:38.
c. The Holy Ghost has been given as: “The earnest seal of their inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, and the hope of eternal life,” Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30; Titus 3:5-7. Amen, somebody!
d. That the “resurrection and the redemption of their bodies; will be fashioned like unto Christ’s glorious body,” Romans 8:23; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 John 3:2-3. All this will occur when He returns from heaven to call His own from the dead; therefore, “comfort one another with these words,” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
4. Peter wrote: “Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ...who hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,”1 Peter 1:3-4.
5. Paul to the Corinth: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord,” 1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Corinthians 5:1. Lastly, he says...
E. With whom: “Among all them which are sanctified.” These promises were made to the elders and saints of Ephesus and to all who are sanctified.
1. The word sanctified in Gr., is hagiazo, or hä-ge-ä'-zo, which means to make holy, i.e., to purify or consecrate; to venerate: —hallow, be holy, sanctify. What sanctifies or makes one holy? It is the word.
a. First, Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them through the truth: thy word is truth,” John 17:17. He prayed, Father, “Set them aside for thy work and service through the truth: thy word is truth.”
b. Further, He continues: “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth,” John 17:19. As Jesus was set apart to the service of the Father, we must be set apart for the service of Christ.
c. Next, Peter wrote: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready to answer every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear,” 1 Peter 3:15.
d. Finally, Paul wrote to Timothy: “If a man, therefore, purges himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work,” 2 Timothy 2:21. He speaks of departing from iniquity, and being a vessel of honor unto the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. All saints are spoken of as being sanctified unto God. Paul wrote to the Corinthians of their sanctification. Notice:
a. He wrote that the church at Corinth was “Sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints,” 1 Corinthians 1:2. Paul used the same greeting to the other churches to which he had written. He called each assembly “saints” in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 1:1.
b. He wrote unto them: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God...And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God,” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
c. He continues: “For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which is God’s,” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. As church members, they were: “Purchase with the precious blood of Christ,” Acts 20:28.
d. He reminded the church at Ephesus: “Husbands love your wives... 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 5:25-27.
e. These saints have been sanctified (set apart) by the “washing of water by the word,” Ephesians 5:26. They are now sanctified unto the service of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. These verses bear some discussion by our ancient writers.
1) Matthew Henry wrote: “The apostle, having mentioned Christ's love to the church, enlarges upon it, assigning the reason why he gave himself for it, namely, that he might sanctify it in this world, and glorify it in the next: That he might sanctify and cleanse it, with the washing of water by the word (v. 26)—that he might endue all his members with a principle of holiness, and deliver them from the guilt, the pollution, and the dominion of sin. The instrumental means this is affected are the instituted sacraments, particularly the washing of baptism and the preaching and reception of the gospel,” Page 1252.
2) B. W. Johnson wrote: “That he might sanctify it. The great love of Christ for the church, his bride, is shown as an example to Christian husbands. Christ gave himself to the church. His object was to sanctify it and make it holy. To do this, it was necessary to cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. All commentators of repute in all bodies refer to this as baptism. All in the church pass through the waters of baptism. But washing the water would be of no avail without the word. The power is in the word of the Lord, which offers the gospel and commands baptism that he might present to himself a glorious church. A church cleansed from sin; a bride without a blemish,” Page 480-481.
3) Conclusion: Sanctification also means holiness: “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God,” Leviticus 20:7; Jeremiah 2:3.
a) Peter admonishes us: “But as he that hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy,” 1 Peter 1:15-16; 2 Corinthians 7:1.
b) With holiness: “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord,” Hebrews 12:14.
c) The way of holiness: “And a(n) highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein,” Isaiah 35:8.
d) Put on the new man: “Is so be that ye have heard him...That ye put off concerning the former conversation the older man...And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness,” Ephesians 4:21-24. This we have done: “Through the faith of the operation of God,” Colossians 2:11-13. Recall our lesson: “Are you in Christ?” This sermon explains in great detail the “new man” and how one becomes a “new creature” in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17.
3. This rendering and explanation of Ephesians 5:26-27 also mirrors Paul’s Letter to Titus. He wrote: “But after that, the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life,” Titus 3:4-7.
4. As I move to a conclusion, let me state that both Matthew Henry and B. W. Johnson agree that the “washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost;” refers to the “new birth” in John 3:5, which is brought about: “By the washing of water by the word,” Titus 3:5. With Paul’s harmony of this idea within his Letter to Titus, clearly the meaning is the “washing of baptism.” Please refer to these writers yourself. On this note, let me conclude. Recall we mentioned...
CONCLUSION
A. Outline.
3. The Leadership’s: Divine Assurance
B. Summarize main points.
1. Lastly, we investigated the elders at Ephesus’ divine assurance. Paul concluded with an assurance unto them: “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified,” Acts 20:32. The beloved apostle now encourages them and grants unto them a divine assurance: an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
2. What a tremendous blessing of these men’s divine call to leadership. The Holy Ghost not only called them but now assures them that God will, by His grace, build them up and grant unto them “an inheritance” with all the saints. Indeed, their “labor will not be in vain in the Lord,” 1 Corinthians 15:58.
C. Invitation. Present God’s pattern of conversion. Jesus said: “Come unto me all ye that labor,” Matthew 11:28-30. [Explain the POC, i.e., hearing and believing the gospel; repentance of all past sins, Luke 24:44-47; confessing faith in Christ, as the Son of God, Matthew 10:32-33; and then, by obeying the gospel, Romans 10:16-18; Romans 6:17-18; that is to: “repent and be baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost,” Acts 2:38; Acts 5:31-32; Ephesians 1:13-14].
D. Exhortation. “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved,” Jeremiah 8:20.
E. Motivation. Do as Peter directed: “Save thyself,” Acts 2:40; Acts 2:36-39; Acts 2:41.
