Download... October 2, 2011. Sunday Morning Service. Bro. Dave Goble.
To have the opportunity to know God in this present life. How wonderful! We have one we can rely on! To have an experience and relationship with God, to help us understand. To know God’s plan, to know we are not alone! To know we don’t believe in a fable. To know! That is so wonderful!
Not to have to count on this word’s wisdom for the solution to our problems. To have confidence in what happens after our earthly body dies. To have an experience with God that helps us understand these things, is so wonderful. It means a lot! To be able to be a part of the body of Christ…The Church!
There are many opinions about the Church…but those opinions don’t make them true. There is only one Church that belongs to God. If we do our best…”to look through a glass darkly” we then will know God face to face. I Corinthians 13: 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face: now I am known in part; but then shall I know, even as I am known.
TEXT: MATTHEW 16:15-18
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates if hell shall not prevail against it.
The question was raised, ..who Jesus was. And Jesus was told by Peter, that He was the Christ. Christ is a title, meaning “The Messiah,” by which we can properly call Jesus. Jesus is of course also our Savior, Guide, Counselor, etc. A new man is the essence of what we become, when we know Him in a personal way. In becoming that “new man” all things that God willed, was then revealed to Peter in time. It was not learned by Peter by just going to church, just as we today cannot learn merely by Church or Sunday school attendance.
It is instead a true revelation, a prior knowledge of “black and white” transformed into a reality of color, ..of who Jesus really is. It is a reality and experience of what God has mercifully and graciously offered us. Why didn’t Jesus reply, “you got it right Peter?” You can get some things right, ..but unless you have “that” experience, you won’t have a true revelation. Some say Peter was the Rock. But Peter is dead and gone. He surely did not save himself! “The Body” ..is not Peter’s body. It is only Jesus who is The Rock, which the gates of hell shall not prevail against.
It matters what we think of, how we “see” The Church, ..and why. It matters if we “gather,” if we have gotten a “measure” of help from “that gathering,” for it comes only because of Christ the Rock. It is our desire for lost souls, to “see,” and it is The Church locally, that will “lead” to Salvation from their sins. We do want to “see” the Church…it’s definition, purpose, and help to Salvation. It is important in why we “see” the Church, for there has been, and still are so many battles against it.
Jude 5,6,8,12 5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. 8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots
Early in the life of The Church, (2nd century) there was battles over what Christ meant to the Church. One of the reasons we are here today, is because of the “battles” fought and won. There have been fierce battles fought and won to bring and keep The Church for our day, and later generations. It matters that we know there is a doctrine and definition that defines The Body of Christ. One good example of this need is illustrated by Manichaeus who lived in the second century ( A.D. 216-76). He had two women followers, and began to teach and preach that he was the second coming of Christ. Interestingly enough, it happened in the Laodicean times. They taught in those times that they could speak in unknown tongues, not a language that was spoken anywhere on earth. They taught that Christ was not equal to God, and the Holy Spirit. So these spirits that are also known about today, are not fairly recent false ones, but had to be “dealt” with back then also.
If these things are not dealt with today, it will do much more damage in the Church. Because people are not faithful to the doctrines of God, …of The Church. Then they would claim, ..”We always believed this way,” therefore leading to the hundreds and thousands down the path of deceit and falseness. “Those” are part of “A” church, but not of The Body of Christ! People will often make an excuse for it because of “holding on” to fleshly desires of the heart that will interfere with being in subjection to Christ. If this is not declared, The Body will no longer recognize The Head. It matters! There may be many who claim to be faithful as Christ body, but The Truth of The Rock will prevail over all. No earthly headquarters as “head,” or no earthly structure, ..defines it.
Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. It is God, not baptism, that adds to the Church. Salvation “by baptism” ...is a popular false doctrine. Men have too often “changed” the structure of the gospel, (i.e. membership changed to Salvation by water baptism.) But John the Baptist did not each this, ..but to “repent,” and be baptized. It is God who adds to the Church daily, by the Blood of Christ, which cleanses from all sin and of water. Holiness was the evidence! We cannot lean on our own way and studies, but only through a live spiritual birth.
Acts 8:1-4 1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
The church is both local and universal. If we “change” the doctrine, we change the nature of the gospel. The scriptures tell us “wherever 2 or 3 are gathered,” Christ is in our midst, as also 'everywhere,'.. are all the saved from sin through Christ blood, including those that have gone on before (universally.) Mathew 18: 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Christ is in the midst of His Church. When people want to “change” the doctrines of Christ, it usually involves control. They may claim that it is also of those we cannot “see” ..in spirituality. So we need to be careful to “see” and study to know who The Church really is. The universal Church is of course all those who truly believe to the Salvation From (not IN) all their sins, through Christ shed blood. Just because The Church is bigger than we can “see,” it did not allow sin in it. The Church puts life in a healthy context. Our spiritual eyes are then opened, and it is the beginning of a new life.
Some might say, “I can worship God, anywhere of my choosing.” I don’t need to go to church.” The reason it is a popular false doctrine, ..is because people have “changed” the projected doctrines of God. If I go to church, yet still have the same problems without His deliverance, ...it is vain. Whether of a charismatic movement, one that declares speaking in tongues as witness of the Holy Spirit, etc., many are falsely claiming they are of God’s body, The Church. But claiming it, doesn’t make it so. No matter what we claim, if we are not Christ’s blood heir, it is vain. In temporal or fleshly life, we can claim anything for our inheritance, but it still takes a blood relative validation to make us as an heir, or another legal process of judgment. Likewise we must be related to Christ to inherit His inheritance. “Claiming” it does not make it our “right.” It takes fighting the “good fight” within God’s Word and gospel, to “gain an inheritance.” People too often want to make the Church in “their own” image. But from the beginning God has been jealous over His Body. Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: Jealous, ...not liberal toward it.
In the last book of Ezra (10th chapter), we find the sons of the priests (of God’s people) had taken strange wives (foreign to God’s word and will) thereby “changing” God’s intent of His spiritual family and body. But no one has an exemption, ..we must still teach and fight spiritually for the Body of Christ dependent upon His word ...only.
Again, Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates if hell shall not prevail against it. This is a ‘special’ Church that is eternal, ..withstanding all Satan’s opposition. Some have said, “I don’t like organized religion. God’s Church is not of “organized religion” either, but rather part of the Body of Christ. You might say it should be really about meeting my “needs.” Are you looking to meet "your needs,” or are you truly looking for The Body of Christ? Not looking for it in a religious "music ministry"of some type, or another, etc.,(any specification of men) but instead you must truly look for the body of Christ. You “might” say, “we are not looking for organized religion” but the body of Christ. If all those battles had not been fought, we would not be here today, as one body and one Head. Having a following is not the point, but a faithfulness to Holy doctrines of God. If one claims they want to be a Christian, but do not want to be in a local body of Christ, "something else is going on there.” There is a reason God exhorts us to be assembled together. Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Too many want to only gather to their own “tent” ( ideas,codes etc.), but if so, you will not submit to God’s appointed leadership.
Again, ..Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. God added daily those that were saved. You can not depend on your own moral code, and expect God to accept that. Independence is not being part of The Body. This is a prevalent problem causing “fractures.” God’s body is part of something bigger than an individual experience. If we can’t see why this is important, ..something ‘else” will be important. We may know some that "claim" a doctrine, but not concerned about “details” ..perhaps relying only on outward musical worship, and ministry. Yet saints of the past have fought for this body, often losing their lives. We are part of a universal body, but also a local body that “stands up” for a “standard” ..that 'God' has put forth.
Matthew 18:18-20 18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. It apparently was important to Jesus that His people be gathered and not be independent. Men “got off the path,” ..to control what was preached for consistency of doctrines. It was a huge mistake. What came out of that was Catholicism, their popes, bishops, etc. All of that structure bypassed the true focus on God’s body. God wants us to be added to a visible gathering of the saved, making sure we honor Jesus as The Head. It doesn’t mean we cannot have some “structure,” but keeping important that the Holy Spirit is our guide. Do you see the Body of Christ?
Romans 12: 5-10 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. We need to be found where God gathers His people to be a testimony and convince the “gainsayers,” (or sceptics..doubters). Sound doctrine produces holiness. Holiness won’t say, ‘We’re the Church, then commit all kinds (or any) sin or corruption at the same time. Our life, if we truly are The Church..God’s Body, will also visibly be a ‘living testimomy.’
I Peter 2:12 15, 16 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. We need to silence the opinion of sinners by our life of holiness from God. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. A path to “silence” the ignorance of the foolish.
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. We can’t be ultimately God’s Church, yet be hiding when there is a”visible” location for gatherings of His body in truth. A Christian cannot choose to be found outside the local Body of Christ. We need to be found where God’s people gather. An example is when someone ask “Are you a citizen of “this country?” As known citizens we can be held accountable to all it’s rules, laws, and also enjoy it’s rights. The USA constitution makes us aware of some of these rights. So we must ask and know, ..what are my obligations and rights to a heavenly body? Too often people independently claim that, “it does not matter where I gather, as long as I confess or claim citizenship of this heavenly body.” This false supposition only causes further scattering. Christ Body the Church was fought and died for, ..in spite of those carnal ones who split and divide from the Body of Christ. We are only interested in lifting up Christ’s Body!
…Do You See The Body of Christ, ..The Church?
