Sermon Central
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The Mystery Of Christ And The Church
Contributed by Dr. Stanley Vasu on May 13, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: CHRIST 1.HAS BOUGHT THE CHURCH 2. THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH 3. THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH 4. LOVES THE CHURCH 5. ADDS PEOPLE TO THE CHURCH 6.GLORIFIED IN THE CHURCH 7. COMING BACK FOR THE CHURCH
THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST AND THE CHURCH
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OUTLINE
1. CHRIST HAS BOUGHT THE CHURCH
2. CHRIST IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH
3. CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH
4. CHRIST LOVES THE CHURCH
5. CHRIST ADDS PEOPLE TO THE CHURCH
6. CHRIST MUST BE GLORIFIED IN THE CHURCH
7. CHRIST IS COMING BACK FOR A PREPARED CHURCH
THE MESSAGE
THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST AND THE CHURCH
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1.CHRIST HAS BOUGHT THE CHURCH
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Christ has bought the church with His own blood. Every person in the church must realise that they belong to Christ. We are precious to Christ because He has paid a great price for us. The Lord keeps us safely in His hand. We are not orphans wandering in the wilderness with no one to guide us and care for us. We are bought with a price and we belong to Christ. The Church does not belong to any man but to Christ. We are only overseers of the church which Christ has bought with His own blood.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,
but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
2.CHRIST IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH
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Christ is the foundation of the church. Therefore the church has been able to withstand all the attacks of the enemy. Christ has been upholding the church since its inception. Unless the church is established on the solid foundation of Christ , it will collapse under the onslaughts of the enemy. We cannot establish the church on wealth , worldy wisdom and human popularity.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
3.CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH
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Christ is the head of the church. Therefore the church must be obedient to Christ. The church is the body of Christ. Every healthy body will obey the commands of the head. When a body does not obey the commands of the head , it is a sign of paralysis. We should not be a sick and diseased and paralysed church which does not obey the commands of the head , the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord wants us to be a healthy church which is submitted to the Lordship of Christ.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,
which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
4.CHRIST LOVES THE CHURCH
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Christ loves the church. Every member in the body of Christ is greatly beloved by Christ. We must realise how much we are loved by Christ. The church is based on a relationship of love with Christ. All our church activities are in vain if our hearts are not filled with the love of Christ. We should not be part of the church because of tradition and habit . We should belong to the church because we love Christ passionately.
