Soli Deo Gloria - part 3
The Family of God (ecclesiology)
Ecclesiology deals with how a church operates. How should it be governed? Who does what? Who can join? What does it do? These are all questions related to the topic of ecclesiology. Today, I would like to demonstrate through Scripture that a biblical ecclesiology encompasses two main functions—building fellowship and blessing the community. This is what it means to be the family of God. Our salvation, which is based on the sound theology we discussed last time, drives us toward unity in fellowship and towards blessing those around us. Now, this blessing also involves the topic of missions, which we will get to at a later date, but for today, we will see how a sound theology and a sound ecclesiology also drives us toward being a blessing to others.
I have titled this sermon “The Family of God”, because what Scripture describes is how we would also describe a loving family. In fact, when we are saved, we are called “children of God”. We are brothers and sisters in One Family. Therefore, as we look at how a church should operate, we are not looking at business strategies or club rules. We are looking at being the family of God.
Moving to Unity
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
1 Peter 3:8
Unity of Mind - united in purpose, mission, and doctrine
As fellow Christians, we are sons and daughters of God, which makes us family. As such, consider Psalm 133:1 and Ephesians 4:1-3.
Ps 133:1 - "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!"
Eph 4:1-3 - "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
We are called to retain unity, because we are family, and because we have all been regenerated by the same Holy Spirit. We are united by the same transformation that has separated us from this world—the transformation from death to life. Likewise, we share the same purpose.
Purpose - We exist to glorify Jesus Christ in being salt and light in Chilhowee and beyond.
Matt 5:13-16 - "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world . A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven."
As an organization of local believers, we share one purpose. That purpose is to glorify Christ and bring His glory and grace to those around us.
Mission - To fulfill the Great Commission
Matt 28:18 - "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age."
The mission of our church is the same mission for all local churches—fulfill the Great Commission. The last command Jesus gave His disciples was to make disciples of all nations. The story of Christ and His eternal life giving Gospel is for all who believe.
That Gospel is a part our doctrine. Now, as a Southern Baptist Church, we use the Baptist Faith & Message to summarize our beliefs.
Doctrine - We adhere to the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 which includes:
Traditional Orthodox view of Trinity, Sin, Salvation, and Atonement
Ordinances of the Church are believer's baptism and Lord's Supper
Regenerated and baptized Membership
Congregational authority led by Elder-Pastor(s)
Two offices affirmed by Scripture - pastor and deacon
In matters of disagreement, we use a system that has come to be called "theological triage". Doctrines fall into 3 categories:
The first is primary matters that deal with salvation and eternity. For example, Jesus is Lord and the Incarnate Word. He is God indwelling flesh. If someone disagrees, then they are not actually a Christian, because the first thing we figure out very quickly in the New Testament is that Jesus is God.
The second is secondary matters. These are doctrines are those in which we are not questioning someone's salvation, but we do have to separate into different fellowships. For example, as baptists, we believe that baptism is reserved for believers who make a conscience decision to follow Christ and who demonstrate a regenerated heart. Other denominations believe baptism is more about the candidate entering into covenant with God, and/or the cleansing of sin, and therefore they baptize infants. New babies are baptized as members of the congregation and church. Though I do believe other denominations can still consist of saved people, we cannot be in fellowship under the same local church.
The third category are tertiary matters which, though we disagree, we can still be in fellowship with one another. If you read the Baptist Faith & Message, you will notice it is not very specific on some matters. The goal of the BFM was to unite the variety of baptists under the mission of evangelism rather than specify individual doctrines which are not relevant to salvation and church polity.
Sympathy - share in the feelings of others
A part of unity of mind is the sharing of feelings with one another, or sympathy. As one member succeeds, we all share in that success. As one member suffers, we all suffer. Just as Paul says,
1 Cor 12:26 - If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Or, consider in his second letter to the Corinthians how he speaks of Titus coming to visit.
2 Cor 7:6 - But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus
Titus was used by God to bring comfort for Paul and his group. Just as Titus was an instrument of God’s comfort, each of us can be used in the same way, if we will only pay attention to our brothers and sisters in Christ. In Romans, Paul states it with uncharacteristic simplicity:
Rom 12:15 - rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
brotherly love - bonds like the family that we are
1 John 4:19-20 - We love because He first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
Rom 12:9-10 - Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
John 15:12-13 - This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
How easy it is for us to neglect the simple fact we are a family of believers. Time and time again, Scripture reminds us to love each other as family.
tender heart - compassion for the weak
Now, some of these overlap quite a bit, but ‘tender heart’ brings about a nuance not found in the others. It specifically deals with those who are weak. Consider again:
Col 3:12 - Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Prov 14:21 - He who despises his neighbor sins; but he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Matt 5:7 - Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Jude 22-23 - And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
It is easy to love those who love us, or love those who are doing better than us. But, our love for one another should not only reach up, but reach down. Reach down to those who society allows you to cast away. Because true love and true mercy is found when you love those you don’t have to.
humble mind - a teachable spirit
The last quality Peter lists is a humble mind. Here is where we are reminded that we aren’t always correct, nor do we have all the answers. Even those who have walked the Christian life for many decades still have much to learn. I have always been fascinated by how much I can learn from my students, if I pay attention to what they have to say.
Prov. 13:18 - Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored.
Hos 4:6 - My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you form being a priest to me.
2 Timothy 2:15 - Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Phil 2:3 - Do nothing form selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Blessing to Honor the Lord
Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
1 Peter 3:9
The Church does not exist to assert the authority of God. "'Vengence is mine', says the LORD" Rather, we exist to be a blessing to the world. Consider that we are also called the Body of Christ. We are to be Christ's representatives on this earth. Christ's mission was to seek and save the lost, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and to heal the sick. We have the same mission as a Commission with Christ. The Church exists to be a blessing.
You were called to bless so that you may obtain a blessing.
Again, this blessing is primarily about missions. The greatest blessing we can give someone is the knowledge of eternal salvation. However, we must remember that Jesus said,
Matt. 5:13-16 - You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Now, having discussed what the local church should look like, we can ask the question, “How do we get there?” There are countless books on building unity and how a church should operate, but before any of that mountain of information can be addressed, we must start with a single first step. We find that step in Matthew 28:18-20.
The Great Commission in Ecclesiology
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
Typically, the Great Commission is only brought up in sermons when the topic is missions. This is rightly so, however Matthew 28:18-20 has significant implications for how the church functions within herself, not just being a mandate for moving outside the walls. Don’t worry, that part will come in a couple of weeks. For now, look closely at what follows the famous “Go”.
Jesus tells us to “make disciples”. We are not called to walk people through heartless ritual, or to get dunked in water and leave them be. We are called to make disciples—people who follow Christ and are surrendered to Him. Now, Jesus immediately explains how disciples are made by using two participles: ‘baptizing' and ‘teaching.’ Once a person has made a profession of faith, we are tasked with helping them in their new faith.
Making disciples involves baptizing and teaching.
The first step is baptism. As mentioned already, as Baptists, we affirm that baptism is reserved for the person who willfully surrenders to Jesus Christ having been regenerated by the Holy Spirit through repentance and faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Evidence for this stance is plenty. John the Baptist, Jesus’ disciples, and throughout Acts all display baptism as performed for cognizant candidates. Jesus did say to allow the little children to come to Him, but we should note that these were children who had at least some idea of what was going on. He did not say “Bring the newborn babies.” Those are different words in Greek, just like English.
Baptism also signifies the new believer joining the local church. As with many denominations, Southern Baptists affirm the necessity of ‘regenerate membership’. This means that members of the church must be a Christian. Because baptism is the physical sign of confession in Christ, it is required that members be baptized. Now, we are not Landmarkists, so we do not require baptism of every new member, so long as when you were saved, you took the step of baptism by immersion.
Believer’s baptism and regenerate membership are the foundations for unity in the local church.
It is impossible for a large group of people to be united with one mindset if that group is mixed with believers and unbelievers. 2 Corinthians 6:14, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” Contrary to what you may have heard at a True Love Waits class in the 90s, this verse is not about dating. The Corinthian church was in shambles, and one of the main reasons was the inclusion of people who were there for reasons other than Christ. We want lost people to feel welcome here, and we want them to return. But, we will not allow for unbelievers to dictate policies or take on leadership positions. We are here for the glory of God, and by definition lost people are far from God. True unity can only occur when we are united in the family of God.
The second part is ‘teaching’. Notice how teaching relates to each of the items Peter lists. ‘Unity of Mind’ requires us to teach other what we know so that we all grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ. ‘Sympathy’ is necessary to teach. The difference between good teaching and bad teaching is not usually a lack of knowledge. It is usually a lack of sympathy. Have you heard the famous line, “They don’t care what you know until they know that you care”? ‘Brotherly love’ and ‘tender heart’ are much the same. And, a ‘humble mind’ goes to the student. However, for those of us who have been a Christian for some time, we must remember to keep that humble mind ourselves. The best teachers and pastors I know are also the best students. They are willing to listen and learn from even those who are fresh on their faith journeys. I have always been amazed at how much I learn from my students, if I am willing to listen to what they have to say.
Sound teaching requires harmony and humility.
Conclusion
Much more can be said on the topic of ecclesiology, but we will have to return to the topic another day. For now, I would like to conclude with this:
The healthiest church you find will be a church centered on the gospel of Christ and unified in their mission to make disciples, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all Jesus has said. The type of church God wants us to be, the type He has designed us to be, will only happen when each of us has surrendered to Jesus as Lord.
If you have not taken the step of faith of repenting from your sins and confessing Jesus as Lord, today is the day. Today, you can be saved from your sins and receive eternal life.
If you have repented and believe that Jesus is Lord, but you have not taken the first step of obedience by being baptized, then today, you need to take that step. All the various theological arguments boil down to this: in Scripture, once a person believed in Christ and received the Holy Spirit, they were baptized as a symbol of obedience and to reflect the spiritual reality of their new birth. Whether or not you were sprinkled as a baby, if you have since understood your need for a Savior, and that Savior is Jesus, then take the next step of faith and obedience by being baptized.
If you say, “Well I have done those things. I have repented and been baptized.” Then, I will simply ask what you are doing to make disciples. Are you purposefully reaching out to the lost? A long time ago this church had a regular visitation program. A group of members would purposefully meet to share Jesus around town. I would love to see that return. Are you teaching others to obey Jesus’ commandments? That doesn’t just happen by being a Sunday School teacher, though we could use a few more teachers. It also happens by being a part of a small group. By engaging with a Sunday school class, or a home group, you learn from others and teach others what you know.