THE CHURCH - GOD'S MASTERPIECE Part 1

by Pastor-teacher Dennis Rokser

 

If you really want to observe a masterpiece, you need not examine the painting of Mona Lisa by Leonardo DaVinci. Neither must you listen to Beethoven's 5th Symphony. Nor must you drive to Mount Rushmore and behold the amazing sculpture of four American presidents. Instead, if you want to observe a divine masterpiece, you must simply see what Jesus Christ is doing by way of the building of His Church. 

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10) 

The Greek word "poiema" translated "workmanship" is the term from which we derive our English word "poem." This Greek word is also found in Romans 1:20 in connection with the natural creation ¾ God's physical masterpiece!

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. (Romans 1:20) 

In Ephesians 2:10, God also displays His power via the Gospel in creating another masterpiece ¾ the church. 

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby. (Eph. 2:11-16) 

The apostle Paul elaborated further on this spiritual masterpiece in Ephesians 3 when he wrote, 

For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.

Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel. (Ephesians 3:1-6) 

Paul goes on to declare how that God is displaying to the universe… 

…by the church the manifold wisdom of God (Ephesians 3:10) 

Christ further assures us of God's ultimate goal regarding this spiritual masterpiece: 

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. (Ephesians 5:27) 

The church is the masterpiece Jesus Christ is presently building and purifying. It is not fully built yet and continues to have many spots and wrinkles. Nevertheless, the church is still God's spiritual masterpiece. 

Regarding those spots and wrinkles, one of the church fathers years ago aptly remarked, 

"The church is a lot like Noah's ark. If it weren't for the judgment on the outside, you could never stand the smell on the inside." 

While this may be true, I confess to you that I love the church generally - and I love the church that I am privileged to pastor in particular. They are my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. We are a spiritual family that God has united together around the Gospel. We are a body of believers. It is a team ministry. Like Ben Franklin once said, "Either we hang together or we hang alone." 

I am deeply committed to the local church in general, the furtherance of the Gospel, the planting of sound churches worldwide, and the Duluth Bible Church specifically. 

Unfortunately, it is my observation that the local church is taking an ecclesiastical beating today. It appears that the reasons for this are myriad; such as false doctrine, personal carnality, worldly leadership, independent lone-ranger Christians, parachurch organizations, non-biblical ecumenicalism, church growth via worldly gimmicks, etc. And while all of these issues grieve my heart deeply, I still stand committed to the local church. As someone has humorously commented, 

"Where else can so many strange people go and be accepted?" 

Here at Duluth Bible Church, we are part of the "frozen chosen." To think that God loved us and sent His Son to die for us is amazing! And to ponder how God has united believers in Christ and brought us together to worship Him, to build up one another, to serve Jesus Christ, and to spread the Gospel is awesome.

The church is God's spiritual masterpiece. To elaborate on this in further detail, I want to devote a series of articles to this important subject. In doing so, I plan to biblically address… 

So let me ask you the question "Does the church really matter to you?" I ask because while some people profess to be believers in Christ, they seem to demonstrate little interest in the church. Thus, in observing people and trends over the years, I have noted two extreme imbalances that have developed among some believers. 

IMBALANCE #1: There are lone-wolf Christians who only study the Word of God on their own (if at all); who submit to no spiritual leadership; who lack loyalty to any local church; who know little to nothing of the "one-anothers" of the New Testament; who act like God's gift to all; and who may function in some parachurch organization that possesses no biblical justification for its existence while practically side-stepping the local church. 

This is comfortable and convenient Christianity, bearing no real resemblance to life in the early church. Unfortunately, this approach is loaded with self-deception and bears very little real fruit for the Lord as it violates the New Testament pattern. 

IMBALANCE #2: There are people who can not think or relate to God apart from the visible organization of a local church; whose only service for the Lord is something visually done within the walls of a church building; who are often dominated by a spiritual leader that goes beyond the parameters of the Word of God; who know little to nothing of the priesthood of every believer; who think to abandon their local church would mean to abandon God; who practice isolationism or denominationalism instead of biblical separation; and who fail to enjoy an intimate, invisible, personal fellowship with God on a daily level that would then overflow in their ministry/ involvement in their church and the world. 

This unbiblical extreme is unhealthy and generates an exclusivism and cult mentality. 

Complicating all this, the evangelical church apes the world's goals and methods and seems more content in entertaining the goats than feeding the sheep. Thus, there is prevalent among Christians an unhealthy aversion to sound doctrine, which alone can provide spiritual nourishment for God's flock. 

Over fifty years ago, Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer wrote in the "Preface" of his Systematic Theology these insightful words… 

"…since doctrine is the bone structure of the body of revealed truth, the neglect of it must result in a message characterized by uncertainties, inaccuracies, and immaturity."1 

"No substitute will ever be found for the knowledge of the Word of God. That Word alone deals with things eternal and infinite, and it alone has power to convert the soul and to develop a God-honoring spiritual life." 2 

"The great preachers who have moved to the hearts of men with divine power have been saturated with Bible truths secured through a first-hand, daily study of its text." 3 

"It is a short step indeed from the ignorance of doctrine to the rejection and ridicule of it, and it can be safely stated that there is no rejection of sound doctrine which is not based on ignorance." 4 

Regardless of these problems, imbalances, and extremes, we need to face the reality that the church is still very precious and important to Jesus Christ. Consider a little of what the New Testament teaches regarding the church. 

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18) 

Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:47) 

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:26) 

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. (Acts 13:1-5) 

And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia: And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. And there they abode long time with the disciples. (Acts 14:23-28) 

And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. (Acts 16:5) 

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. (Acts 20:28) 

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:22-23) 

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21) 

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Eph. 4:11-16) 

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18) 

Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.

(Colossians 1:24-26) 

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. (1 Timothy 3:15) 

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 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. (Hebrews 10:24-25) 

The church is very precious and important to Jesus Christ. Christ is head over the church. He has shed His blood for the church. Is the church precious and important to you? If you are saved, you need to take a good hard look at your attitude and relationship to the local church. ¢

  

1 Chafer, Lewis Sperry, Systematic Theology (Vol. 1), pg. V

2 Ibid. (Vol. 1), pg. VI

3 Ibid. (Vol. 1), pg. VI

4 Ibid. (Vol. 1), pg. VIII

 

Dennis Rokser has been involved with the Duluth Bible Church for the last 16 years, serving as pastor-teacher for the last thirteen years.

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