Our text tonight is Acts 20:28. Our subject is THE CHURCH OF GOD. It is of utmost importance that every child of God know the purpose and value of the church of God in this world and commit himself to it.
Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Proposition: Believers cannot exist in this world in spiritual health without the strength, ministry, support, and help of a local church family.
The text which I have selected for tonight is taken from the Book of Acts. One great purpose of the Acts is to show us how that God works in this world through his church. The Book of Acts is the inspired record of the progress of the church during its first thirty years of existence in this world. The most prominent figure in the church during those first thirty years was the Apostle Paul. It is this man, Paul, who is speaking in our text. He is giving a solemn charge to the elders at Ephesus, regarding their responsibilities as the servants of God. He says, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."
Divisions: I want to raise and answer six very practical questions about "the church of God.'
It cannot be denied that the word "church" is used in at least three ways in the New Testament.
1. It is used to describe all true believers of all ages, both those of the Old Testament and those of the New, both those on the earth and those in heaven. This is what we call the Universal Church. It is the mystical, spiritual body of Christ and the Bride of Christ. It is that spiritual body of which Jesus Christ is the Head (Eph. 1:22; 5:25-27).
Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.
Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) 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.
2. The word "church" is also used to describe local, visible assemblies of professed believers in a given place. In every local church there are both believers and unbelievers, wheat and tares, sheep and goats, true possessors of faith and false professors of faith. Every local church has in its membership both the true and the false. But, still, every local assembly of men and women who profess faith in Christ and the gospel of his grace is set forth as a local church, and is called "the church of God" (Rom. 16:1-5).
Romans 16:1-5 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: (2) That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. (3) Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: (4) Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. (5) Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
3. The word "church" is used to describe all true gospel churches at any given time in the world. Obviously, I do not mean to suggest that the church of God is made up of all churches and denominations. But it does include all true New Testament churches at any given time in the world. We are one in Christ, one in purpose, one in heart, and one in desire. All true gospel churches are one in this world (1 Cor. 10:32; 12:28).
1 Corinthians 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
1 Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
In Acts 20:28, Paul is addressing the elders of a particular local assembly at Ephesus, or perhaps elders from several local assemblies in the Ephesus area. But the words "the church of God" in this text have reference to the local church. And Paul tells us three things about the church of God which are true of every local, gospel church.
A. The church belongs to God.Grace Baptist Church is "the church of God" at Danville, Kentucky. I am not talking about the building in which we meet, but about the people who meet here. We are "the church of God". This church does not belong to the Baptist denomination, or to me, or to you. It belongs to God exclusively. We are God's people and God's property.
1. God chose us to be his people in sovereign election before the world began (2 Thess. 2:13).
2. God redeemed us to himself by the precious blood of his dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (Tit. 2:14).
3. God called us to himself by the irresistible power and grace of his Spirit, creating spiritual life within us and giving us faith in Christ (Col. 1:12-14).
NOTE: These things are true of all true believers. And, though there may be unbelievers among us, we all profess to be believers, so these things are true of us collectively as a local church. This is the church of God. Let all beware. He that harms God's church touches the apple of God's eye!
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (17) If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
B. The church of God is a flock of sheep.It is called "the flock of God", because it is made up of Christ's sheep.
"A church of Christ is compared to a flock of sheep, being in Gospel order, folded together and feeding in the same pasture, attending the Word and ordinances, under the care of shepherds appointed by Christ the chief Shepherd" – (John Gill).
1. Before we were converted, we were as sheep going astray from our God and Savior (Isa. 53:6).
2. After conversion, God's people are compared to sheep, because they are meek, inoffensive, patient, and totally dependent upon Christ, who is our Shepherd.
3. And sheep are far from being perfect, ideal creatures.
Sheep are silly, ignorant, helpless, defenseless, straying, dirty, needy animals, who cannot even bear their young alone. Therefore, they need and must have shepherds, pastors, to care for them. And it is the pastor's responsibility to…
But it is never his responsibility to discipline and chasten the sheep. The Chief Shepherd alone has the ability to do that! We cannot distinguish sheep from goats. Only the Shepherd can do that. We cannot tell tares from wheat. Only the Reaper of the harvest can do that.
C. The church of God was purchased by the blood of Christ who is God.Paul describes the church as being "the church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood."
1. The Purchaser of the church is God himself.
2. The price of the purchase was "his own blood."
3. The purchase was made by the legal payment of our debt, the satisfaction of justice, to ransom our souls from the hands of divine justice and the penalty of the law.
a. It was a particular purchase. Christ purchased his church. All of God's elect, the chosen members of this church, were purchased by Christ.
b. It was a complete purchase. "It is finished!"
c. It was an effectual purchase (Eph. 5:25-27).
Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) 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.
II. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH?Why did our Lord establish his church in this world? Why did the apostles gather believers into local churches in every city? What is the purpose of our existence as a local church? In 1 Timothy 3:15-16, the apostle Paul tells us that the church is "the pillar and ground of the truth."
We are not the source of truth. But we are the pillar and ground of the truth. We are not the devisors of truth, but the dispensers of truth. It is our responsibility to preserve the truth, promote the truth, and proclaim the truth of God in the generation in which we live.
Truth is the legacy we have received from the preceding generation. And truth is the legacy we must leave to the generation to come. And that particular body of truth, which we are responsible to maintain, is the gospel of Christ. Our creed is "Christ and him crucified." The truth we maintain and declare is the great "mystery of godliness", redemption by Christ, the incarnate God. We must never lose sight of our purpose!
1 Timothy 3:15-16 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (16) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
At first, the church was under the direct government of Christ himself. Then it was governed by the Apostles of our Lord. They appointed deacons to relieve them of the mundane duties of watching over matters of money, property, and the care of widows. As the Apostles died out, the pastors they had appointed in different places had the responsibility of being overseers of the churches. Sometimes the pastor is called "elder", and sometimes "bishop" in the New Testament. But wherever you read the words "elder", "bishop", and "pastor" in the New Testament, the men mentioned are the same, they are pastors, undershepherds to Christ, overseers of the church, spiritual rulers in the house of God.
The church of God is not a political body, or a business corporation, or a social club or organization, to be ruled by the democratic vote of the people or the whims of men. The commonly accepted practice of congregational rule among Baptist churches in this country is totally without foundation in the Word of God. The church of God is a kingdom, under the rule of Christ. It is governed by Christ's appointed pastors, through the Word of God, as they are taught and led by the Spirit of God (Heb. 13:7, 17).
Hebrews 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
A. It is the pastor's responsibility to rule in the house of God (1 Tim. 3:1-7).1 Timothy 3:1-7 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. (2) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; (3) Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; (4) One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (5) (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) (6) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. (7) Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
He does not rule by bullish force, or intimidation, or legislative power. But he does rule!
1. The pastor rules the house of God by the Word of God.
2. He rules by his own example of faith and faithfulness.
3. As God's overseer, he rules the church in love, love for Christ, love for the truth, and love for the people of God.
4. The pastor must rule the house of God as he is led by the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God.
I know that giving one man such power over so many can be a very dangerous thing, if that man is not himself ruled by the Spirit of Christ. Many have suffered greatly by the abuse of pastoral authority. But the answer to the problem of abuse is not to restrict the pastoral office, but rather to seek the direction of the Holy Spirit in choosing a pastor, carefully following the guidelines of Holy Scripture, and pray for God's mercy and grace to abide upon, preserve, and keep your pastor in the way of truth, faith, and righteousness.
5. When a local church is ruled by the voice of the people, there is no limit to the evil that may be done.In the Word of God, I find four places, only four, where the course of action for God's people was decided and determined by the congregation. The results are a commentary on the subject of congregational rule.
a. In Exodus 32:1-6, the children of Israel are seen dancing naked around the golden calves.
b. In Numbers 16:1-4, they tried to kill God's prophet, Moses.
c. In 1 Chronicles 13:1-14, the Lord made a breach upon the people, because they defiled the ark of God.
d. In Acts 1:15-26, the church chose an apostle God had not ordained.
The axiom of democracy is "the people are always right." But in spiritual matters the people are always wrong. The majority almost never rules according to the mind of God.
B. It is the responsibility of God's church to follow and obey that man who rules over it as pastor by the will of God.Again I emphasize the importance of local churches exercising great care in calling a pastor. They should get to know all they possibly can about him. Make certain that he measures up to the requirements laid down in Holy Scripture. If he does not measure up, no matter how well he can preach, no matter how likable he appears to be, he must not be called as pastor. Once a man has been called as pastor, the church has placed herself under his rule. If he is God's man, it will be a blessed relationship. If he is not, it will be disaster.
1. It is your responsibility to yield a voluntary subjection and obedience to your pastor as God's messenger to your soul.
2. It is an obedience based upon love and trust.
3. If you are not happy with your pastor, if you have reason to question his ability to faithfully watch over your soul, you can do one of two things.
NOTE: In either case, you had better be very sure of what your are doing. But do not ever dare to assume that it is your responsibility to remove your pastor!
IV. HOW DO PEOPLE UNITE WITH AND JOIN THE CHURCH?A person is united with the church universal when he is united with Christ by faith. But a local church must be joined by some public act. I know that some people think church membership is insignificant. And there are some who place too much importance upon it, making church membership a basis of hope before God. But in the New Testament, believers did publicly unite with one another in local churches (Acts 9:26-27; Rom. 16:1-2).
Acts 9:26-27 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. (27) But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
Romans 16:1-2 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: (2) That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
A. A local church is an assembly, or congregation, of believing men and women, united to Christ and one another in love.A local church is a society of saved sinners, knit together by the Spirit of God. According to the pattern laid down in Acts 2, four things are necessary for membership in the church of God.
Acts 2:36-41 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (37) Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? (38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (39) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (40) And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. (41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
Ephesians 2:20-22 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (21) In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (22) In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
The church is more than a mere unit of men. It is a union of hearts. It is more than a bare uniformity of doctrine, though that is important. It is a union of spiritual life (Eph. 4:1-7).
Ephesians 4:1-7 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, (2) With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; (3) Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (4) There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (5) One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (6) One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (7) But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
1. We are "one body", united to Christ our Head.Those are the things that characterize the church of God. If those things describe us, we are "the church of God". If they do not, we are just another religious club, with a name that we live, but are dead!
IV. WHAT DOES CHURCH MEMBERSHIP INVOLVE?It is one thing to have your name on a church role, but it is something else to be a member of the church of God. Church membership is an alliance of hearts to one another in Christ. It is a voluntary commitment of love, a loving commitment to Christ and to one another for Christ's sake. To unite with the church of God is to make a public commitment to the worship of Christ, the gospel of Christ, and the church of Christ.
A. We are committed to the worship of our Lord Jesus Christ.We come together to read his Word, sing his praise, observe his ordinances, call upon his name, and be instructed in his gospel (Acts 2:42).
Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
B. We are committed to the gospel of Christ.We are united together for the defense of the gospel and for the furtherance of the gospel. For this reason, we assemble to hear the Word, give to publish the Word, and go forth to proclaim the Word.
1. Together you support one man to give himself to the ministry of the Word, so that he may feed your souls with knowledge and understanding (Jer. 3:15).
2. Together we help supply the needs of pastors, missionaries, and evangelists around the world, so that they may publish the gospel without distraction by carnal cares.
3. Together we supply hundreds with tracts, tapes, and books, so that they might know the gospel and worship our God.
We are committed to one another for Christ's sake. If we are the church of God, our hearts are devoted to one another in love (Phil. 2:1-4).
Philippians 2:1-4 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, (2) Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. (3) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (4) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
God's people…Perhaps you have been debating the matter of church membership in your mind. You may be looking for biblical reasons to join the church of God. I could give you numerous reasons from the Scriptures why you should unite with a local New Testament church. But I will give you just one. If you are a believer, if you trust Christ, if you are born again by the grace of God, here is one reason why you should unite with the church of God – You need us!
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (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.
Application:The church of God is neither more nor less than an assembly of men and women whose hearts are united together in the faith of the gospel, the fellowship of the Spirit, and the love of Christ. We have all that any church should have…
1. We have a priesthood – The priesthood of every believer in Christ.
2. We have a sacrifice – The blood of Jesus Christ.
3. We observe a law – The law of Christ our Head, the law of faith and love.
4. We confess a creed – The Word of God, the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
5. We proclaim a message – Jesus Christ and him crucified.
6. We have a program with activities for every age – Prayer, praise, and preaching!
7. We have goals for which we strive earnestly…
As Moses said to Jethro, his father-in-law, so I say to saved sinners everywhere – "Come, thou, with us and we will do thee good."
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