THE CHURCH: THE BODY OF CHRIST
EPHESIANS 5:20-33
FEBRUARY 03, 2019
WE ARE CONTINUING WITH OUR SERIES ON THE CHURCH. THE SCRIPTURE WRITERS, UNDER THE INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, USED MANY DIFFERENT IMAGES AND SYMBOLS TO COMMUNICATE DIVINE TRUTHS. WE ARE LOOKING AT ONE TODAY WHERE THE CHURCH IS CALLED “THE BODY OF CHRIST.”
THIS PASSAGE HAS BEEN USED TO HELP DISTINGUISH THE ROLES OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES, MOST OF IT INCORRECTLY. WHAT THIS PASSAGE DOES DO IS TALK ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP CHRIST HAS WITH THE CHURCH, AND HOW IT IS TO BE PHYSICALLY DEMONSTRATED BY HUSBANDS AND WIVES IN THEIR DAILY LIVES.
THE BIBLE WILL OFTEN USE THE EXAMPLES OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES AS IT RELATES TO CHRIST AND THE CHURCH. THE CHURCH IS OFTEN CALLED THE BRIDE, AND THE LORD IS OFTEN CALLED THE BRIDEGROOM, AND IT STEMS FROM OUR UNDERSTANDING OF JEWISH MARRIAGE TRADITIONS.
A TRADITIONAL JEWISH MARRIAGE WAS USUALLY AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE. THE ARRANGEMENT WOULD BE MADE BETWEEN THE FATHERS WHEN THE COUPLE WERE VERY YOUNG. DOWRIES WERE ESTABLISHED, PROMISES BETWEEN THE FAMILIES WERE ESTABLISHED, SOMETIMES EVEN BEFORE THE COUPLE WOULD ACTUALLY MEET. THE MARRIAGE WAS FELT TO BE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAMILIES.
THE MARRIAGE HAD THREE ASPECTS TO IT:
1) THE ENGAGEMENT: THIS WAS MORE BINDING THAN A MODERN-DAY ENGAGEMENT. THE TERMS OF THE MARRIAGE WERE ACCEPTED IN THE PRESENCE OF WITNESSES AND GOD’S BLESSING IS PRONOUNCED UPON THE UNION. FROM THIS POINT ON THE GROOM AND BRIDE WERE LEGALLY HUSBAND AND WIFE.
2) THE BETROTHAL: THIS WAS THE TIME BETWEEN THE ENGAGEMENT AND THE WEDDING PROCESSION AND FEAST, USUALLY ABOUT A YEAR. DURING THIS TIME THE DOWRY COULD BE PAID, AND THE HOME PREPARED BY THE GROOM FOR THE BRIDE.
3) THE PROCESSION: LAST THERE IS THE PREPARATION AND PROCESSION TO THE VENUE FOR THE WEDDING FEAST. THIS USUALLY LASTED SEVERAL DAYS. THE GROOM ARRAYS HIMSELF IN HIS BEST ATTIRE, AND ACCOMPANIED BY FRIENDS WHO SING AND CARRY TORCHES. HE RECEIVES THE BRIDE AND TAKES HER WITH A RETURN PROCESSION TO THE PLACE WHERE THE WEDDING FEAST WILL BE HELD.
THIS IS THE RELATIONSHIP CHRIST HAS WITH HIS CHURCH. IT IS TALKED ABOUT HERE BUT THE BEST DESCRIPTION IS GIVEN BY CHRIST TO THE DISCIPLES IN JOHN CHAPTER 14.
JOHN 14:1-3:
“DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED. YOU BELIEVE IN GOD; BELIEVE ALSO IN ME. 2 MY FATHER’S HOUSE HAS MANY ROOMS; IF THAT WERE NOT SO, WOULD I HAVE TOLD YOU THAT I AM GOING THERE TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU? 3 AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME BACK AND TAKE YOU TO BE WITH ME THAT YOU ALSO MAY BE WHERE I AM.
JESUS IS USING THE JEWISH MARRIAGE TO DESCRIBE HIS OWN DEATH, AND WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO FOR THE WORLD:
1) THE ENGAGEMENT: BELIEVE IN ME. PROMISES OF LOVE AND
COMMITMENT.
2) THE BETROTHAL: I AM GOING TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU
3) THE PROCESSIONAL: I WILL TAKE YOU TO BE WITH ME
THIS INDICATES THE STRENGTH AND FORCEFULNESS OF JESUS STATEMENTS. HE IS SAYING THAT HIS UPCOMING DEATH, RESURRECTION AND RETURN, CARRIES THE SAME WEIGHT AS THE COVENANT PROMISES OF A JEWISH MARRIAGE.
CONTEXT OF THE PASSAGE:
IN OUR PASSAGE TODAY, PAUL IS GOING TO USE MARRIAGE AS A DRAMATIC ILLUSTRATION OF CHRIST’S LOVE FOR THE CHURCH. THE KEY VERSES IN THE PASSAGE THEN IS Vv.29-32 WHICH STATES:
EPHESIANS 5:29-32:
After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” e 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
THE MYSTERY PAUL IS SPEAKING OF IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. IN THESE THREE VERSES PAUL STATES THAT JUST AS A HUSBAND AND WIFE ARE UNITED TO BECOME ONE FLESH, IN ALL WAYS, SO TOO DOES CHRIST UNITE WITH THE CHURCH, TO FORM ONE BODY. IT IS A BODY THAT MUST BE NURTURED AND CARED FOR IF IT IS TO REMAIN HEALTHY. THE NATURE OF THIS RELATIONSHIP IS WHAT THIS PASSAGE IS ALL ABOUT.
FOR US THOUGH, AS WE CONSIDER BEING A PART OF HIS BODY, WE MUST ASK WHAT BEING A PART OF HIS BODY MEANS? THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION WILL HELP US DETERMINE THE SPIRITUAL HEALTH OF OUR CHURCH.
THIS PASSAGE SHOWS SEVEN TRUTHS ABOUT A HEALTHY CHURCH:
THE FIRST TRUTH: CHRIST LOVES THE CHURCH
EPHESIANS 5:25: HUSBANDS, LOVE YOUR WIVES, JUST AS CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR HER
WHEN THIS VERSE STATES THAT HE “GAVE HIMSELF” THE GREEK IS STRESSING THAT CHRIST TOOK THRE INITIATIVE IN HANDING HIMSELF OVER TO DEATH. IT IS A SELF-SACRIFICE THAT CHRIST MAKES FOR HIS CHURCH.
ROMANS 5:7-8:
VERY RARELY WILL ANYONE DIE FOR A RIGHTEOUS PERSON, THOUGH FOR A GOOD PERSON SOMEONE MIGHT POSSIBLY DARE TO DIE. 8 BUT GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS OWN LOVE FOR US IN THIS: WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US.
CHRIST SAW THAT THE ONLY WAY FOR THE CHURCH TO HAVE LIFE WAS TO GIVE HIS OWN. CHRIST MADE THIS ATONING SACRIFICE FOR HIS BRIDE ON THE CROSS. IT CANNOT BE REPEATED, BUT IT CAN BE FOLLOWED AS A MODEL OF SELF-SACRIFICE. HUSBANDS ARE YOU READY TO MAKE THAT KIND OF WILLING VOLUNTARY SACRIFICE?
THE SECOND TRUTH: THE CHURCH AS A BODY IS ALIVE
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND DETERMINED THAT THE CHURCH IS A LIVING ORGANISM. AS A LIVING THING THE CHURCH CAN’T BE TURNED ON AND OFF AGAIN AND AGAIN. THE CHURCH MUST CONTINUE TO LIVE AND GROW, OR IT WILL EVENTUALLY DIE.
THE CHURCH DOES NOT STOP LIVING. I DON’T STOP BEING MARRIED IF I’M NOT AROUND MY WIFE. THERE AREN’T CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY THAT I AM NOT MARRIED AND CERTAIN TIMES THAT I AM. I’M MARRIED 24/7/365 DAYS OF THE YEAR, AND I LOVE IT.
BECAUSE THE CHURCH IS A LIVING ORGANISM IT IS POSSIBLE FOR US AS CHRISTIANS TO LOVE IT, OR TO BREAK IT’S HEART. PAT DAMIANI SPEAKS OF TWO TRENDS AMONG THOSE WHO CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIAN THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT WHEN IT COMES TO UNDERSTANDING THE DECREASE IN CHURCH ATTENDANCE.
1. IT SEEMS TO BE MORE FASHIONABLE IN OUR CULTURE FOR PEOPLE TO SAY SOMETHING LIKE “I LOVE JESUS, BUT I HATE THE CHURCH.”, OR “FORGET THE CHURCH, FOLLOW JESUS”. THE IDEA IS THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO SEPARATE JESUS FROM HIS BRIDE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IF A BRIDE AND GROOM SEPARATES, THEN THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE MARRIAGE, NOT THAT THERE IS SOMETHING RIGHT WITH IT.
2. THE SCOND TREND IS THAT TECHNOLOGY, RADIO, T.V., THE INTERNET HAVE GIVEN PEOPLE THE ABILITY TO FEEL LIKE THEY AN STAY HOME AND STILL BE PART OF THE CHURCH. YOU CAN SHOP AND CHOOSE MUSIC FROM ONE CHURCH AND PREACHING FROM ANOTHER. I CAN CHOOSE WHAT I WANT TO HEAR SO NO CONVICTING MESSAGES, AND NOTHING TO STRUGGLE WITH. THERE IS ALSO NO LOVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PEOPLE. YOU CAN’T HUG, OR SHARE YOUR HEART WITH A T.V.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WHEN WE CANCELED CHURCH WE HAD THE CHANCE TO BE BEDSIDE BAPTISTS, PILLOW PRESBYTERIANS, AND MATRESS METHODISTS. WE WATCHED MANY SERVICES ON T.V. IT WAS THE LONGEST DAY FOR BOTH LESLIE AND MYSELF. THE CHURCH IS A LIVING ORGANISM AND WHEN WE ARE NOT PART OF IT, WE MISS IT.
THE THIRD TRUTH: THE CHURCH AS A BODY HAS FORM AND SHAPE
THE CHURCH, OR THE BODY OF CHRIST TAKES IT’S SHAPE AND FORM FROM US IT’S MEMBERS. OUR BODY IS MADE OF SEVERAL PARTS AND EACH HAS IT’S OWN UNIQUE FUNCTION FOR THE BODY AS A WHOLE.
ROMANS 12:4-5:
4 FOR JUST AS EACH OF US HAS ONE BODY WITH MANY MEMBERS, AND THESE MEMBERS DO NOT ALL HAVE THE SAME FUNCTION, 5 SO IN CHRIST WE, THOUGH MANY, FORM ONE BODY, AND EACH MEMBER BELONGS TO ALL THE OTHERS
IT WOULD BE SILLY TO THINK OF THE HANDS AS BEING JEALOUS OF THE EARS BECAUSE THEY CAN ONLY TOUCH, OR THE FEET TO BE JEALOUS OF THE EYES BECAUSE THE FEET CANNOT SEE A SUNRISE. EACH HAS AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION IN THE BODY WHICH ONLY THEY CAN DO. IT IS THE SAME WAY WITH THE BODY OF CHRIST.
THE FOURTH TRUTH: WE CAN NEVER CEASE TO BE MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST
IF YOU ARE TRULY A CHRISTIAN THEN YOU CAN NEVER CEASE TO BE A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH. YOU MAY TRANSFER TO A DIFFERENT CHURCH IF YOU MOVE, BUT YOU WILL REALIZE THAT TO CHOOSE TO STAY AWAY FROM THE CHURCH, FOR WHATEVER REASON IS UNBIBLICAL AND WRONG. IT BETRAYS THE FACT THAT THE PERSON IS SEEKING THEIR OWN INTERESTS AND NOT THAT OF WORSHIPPING GOD.
I WANT YOU TO TRY SOMETHING RIGHT NOW FOR ME. TAKE OFF YOUR RIGHT HAND AND YOUR LEFT LEG AND PUT THEM IN THE AISLE. GO AHEAD YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE TOO MUCH TROUBLE.
OF COURSE YOU CAN’T DO THIS, FOR THEY ARE PART OF OUR BODIES AND CANNOT BE SEPARATED. IF YOU WERE TO REMOVE YOUR ARM FROM YOUR BODY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO IT? IT WOULD DIE!
YOU CAN NEVER BE SEPARATED FROM YOUR CHURCH. IT IS ALIVE IN YOU 24/7 365 DAYS, WHETHER YOU WANT IT OR NOT. IF YOU GO TO A PLACE WHERE YOU SHOULD NOT BE, THE CHURCH GOES WITH YOU.
IF YOU DO SOMETHING THAT IS DISHONORING TO GOD, THE CHURCH IS THERE WITH YOU. AS A CHRISTIAN YOU REPRESENT THE CHURCH IN ALL THAT YOU DO. PEOPLE NEVER SAY YOUR ARM DID THIS OR YOUR LEG DID THAT. THEY SAY YOU DID IT, YOUR ENTIRE BODY AS A WHOLE.
THE FIFTH TRUTH: THE CHURCH AS A BODY HAS NO ROOM FOR JEALOUSY
I HAD SOME REAL PROBLEMS WHEN I GOT UP THIS MORNING. MY LEGS WERE NOT GOING TO WORK WITH MY EYES AT ALL, BECAUSE THEY WERE JEALOUS THAT THE EYES COULD SEE THE SUNRISE AND MY FEET COULD NOT. MY EARS WERE MAD AT MY HANDS BECAUSE MY HANDS COULD HOLD MY BIBLE AND MY EARS COULD NOT. YOU HAVE TO ADMIT THAT IS QUITE A PROBLEM.
IT SOUNDS SILLY, BUT THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT JEALOUSY IN THE CHURCH SOUNDS LIKE.
1 CORINTHIANS 14:12: SO IT IS WITH YOU. SINCE YOU ARE EAGER FOR GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT, TRY TO EXCEL IN THOSE THAT BUILD UP THE CHURCH
EACH OF US HAVE SPECIAL GIFTS THAT ARE TO BE USED TO BENEFIT THE BODY.
LISTEN TO THIS WONDERFUL STORY TOLD BY THE GREAT THEOLOGIAN AESOP.
ONE DAY IT OCCURRED TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BODY THAT THEY WERE DOING ALL THE WORK AND THAT THE BELLY WAS HAVING ALL THE FOOD. SO THEY HELD A MEETING AND AFTER A LOND DISCUSSION DECIDED TO STRIKE UNTIL THE BELLY CONSENTED TO TAKE ITS PROPER SHARE OF THE WORK. SO FOR A DAY OR TWO THE HANDS REFUSED TO TAKE THE FOOD, THE MOUTH REFUSED TO RECEIVE IT, AND THE TEETH HAD NO WORK TO DO.
AFTER A DAY OR TWO MEMBERS BEGAN TO FIND THAT THEY THEMSELVES WERE NOT IN VERY ACTIVE CONDITION. THE HANDS COULD HARDLY MOVE, THE MOUTH WAS ALL PARCHED AND DRY, WHILE THE LEGS WERE UNABLE TO SUPPORT THE REST. THUS THEY FOUND THAT EVEN THE BELLY IN ITS QUIET DULL WAY WAS DOING NECESSARY WORK FOR THE BODY AND THAT ALL MUST WORK TOGETHER OR THE BODY WOULD GO TO PIECES.
THE SIXTH TRUTH: WHEN ONE PART OF THE CHURCH AS A BODY HURTS WE ALL HURT
WE ARE ALL PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, AND WHEN ONE OF US IS HURTING, WE ALL HURT.
ROMANS 12:15: REJOICE WITH THOSE WHO REJOICE; MOURN WITH THOSE WHO MOURN
WHEN YOU HAVE THE FLU, YOUR ENTIRE BODY ACHES DOESN’T IT, NOT JUST ONE PART. IT’S BECAUSE THE FLU EFFECTED THE ENTIRE BODY. WHEN I WOULD GET MIGRAINE HEADACHES MY WHOLE BODY ACHED. I COULDN’T STAND ANY LIGHT, DIDN’T WANT ANY FOOD, MY LEGS WERE WEAK AND WOBBILY, MY WHOLD BODY WAS EFFECTED.
WHEN WE SEE SOMEONE IN THE CHURCH HURTING AT THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE, OR GOING THROUGH A DIFFICULT SICKNESS, WE HURT AS WELL. WE LAUGH TOGETHER AND WE CRY TOGETHER. IT’S THE WAY GOD TRAINS US TO BE ABLE TO LOVE EACH OTHER.
THE SEVENTH TRUTH: THE CHURCH AS THE BODY OF CHRIST SERVES TOGETHER
THE CHURCH HAS ONE PURPOSE AND THAT IS TO BUILD THE KINGDOM OF GOD. AS WE EACH STRIVE FOR THAT GOAL AND USE OUR VARIOUS GIFTS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, WE DRAW CLOSER TOGETHER.
THIS IS THE TYPE OF CHURCH THAT WILL DRAW PEOPLE TO IT. IT WILL BUILD UNITY AND STRENGTH IN THE BODY. YOU MUST HOWEVER BE WILLING TO USE THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS AN CHRISTIAN TO BE WILLING TO BE USED BY GOD DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME IN THE CHURCH.
I HAVE A SAD AND DIFFICULT ANNOUNCEMENT I HAVE TO MAKE TO YOU, ABOUT THE DEATH OF A VERY PROMINENT AND ONE OF OUR CHURCHS MOST VALUABLE MEMBERS – SOMEONE ELSE.
SOMEONE’S PASSING CREATED A VACANCY THAT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO FILL. ELSE HAS BEEN WITH US FOR MANY YEARS, AND FOR EVERY ONE OF THOSE YEARS, SOMEONE DID FAR MORE THAN THE NORMAL PERSON’S SHARE OF THE WORK. WHENEVER LEADERSHIP WAS MENTIONED, THIS WONDERFUL PERSON WAS LOOKED TO FOR INSPIRATION AS WELL AS RESULTS. SOMEONE ELSE CAN WORK WITH THAT GROUP.
WHENEVER THERE WAS A JOB TO DO, A CLASS TO TEACH, OR A MEETING TO ATTEND, ONE NAME WAS ON EVERYONE’S LIPS, “LET SOMEONE ELSE DO IT”.
IT WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT SOMEONE ELSE WAS AMONG THE LARGEST GIVERS IN THE CHURCH. WHENEVER THERE WAS A FINANCIAL NEED, EVERYONE JUST ASSUMED THAT SOMEONE ELSE WOULD MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.
SOMEONE ELSE WAS A WONDERFUL PERSON, SOMETIMES APPEARING SUPER-HUMAN, BUT A PERSON CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH. NOW SOMEONE ELSE IS GONE AND WE WONDER WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO. SOMEONE ELSE LEFT A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW, BUT WHO IS GOING TO FOLLOW IT. WE CAN’T DEPEND ON SOMEONE ELSE ANYMORE, AND HE ONLY HAD ONE BROTHER TO TURN TO NOONE ELSE.
THIS PASSAGE TELLS US IN EPHESIANS 5:27, THAT CHRIST WANTS TO PRESENT HIS BRIDE TO HIMSELF IN SPLENDOR, WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE. HE WANTS TO SEE HIS BRIDE IN ALL HER BEAUTY.
A HUSBAND’S GREATEST MOTIVE FOR LOVING PROTECTING AND CARING FOR HIS BRIDE IS CHRIST’S LOVE, PROTECTING AND CARING FOR HIS OWN BRIDE THE CHURCH. THE SACRED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRISTIAN HUSBANDS AND WIVES IS PERMANENTLY RELATED TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH.
WE ARE HIS BODY, AS THIS POEM SAYS:
“CHRIST HAS NO HANDS BUT OUR HANDS TO DO HIS WORK TODAY
HE HAS NO FEET BUT OUR FEET TO LEAD MEN IN HIS WAY
HE HAS NO TONGUE BUT OUR TONGUE TO TELL MEN WHY HE DIED
HE HAS NO HELP BUT OUR HELP TO BRING THEM TO HIS SIDE
WE ARE THE ONLY BIBLE THE CARELESS WORLD WILL READ
WE ARE THE SINNER’S GOSPEL. WE ARE THE SCOFFERS CREED”
WILL YOU LET JESUS MOLD YOU AND SHAPE YOU INTO BEING A BELOVED PART OF HIS BODY, THE CHURCH, AND PRESENT YOU TO HIMSELF IN GLORY AS HIS BRIDE?
