The Importance of the Church

Matthew 13:44-46

Introduction.

  1. Jesus often talked about the kingdom of heaven in parables.

    1. That kingdom is the church.

    2. Some of these parables are very short, one or two verses.

    3. “The Hidden Treasure” shows the joy one ought to have after finding it, how precious it is (Matt. 13:44).

    4. “The Pearl of Great Price” shows the value of this precious kingdom (Matt. 13:45-46).

  2. This kingdom is of vital importance.

  3. How should we treat that kingdom, the church of Christ?

Body.

  1. Definition.

    1. English word “church” is from Old English that can be traced to a 4th century Greek word that means “Lord’s house.”

    2. So etymologically, “church of Christ” is redundant, like “PIN number.”

    3. In the Bible, the word translated as “church” is nowhere near the etymology of the English word.

    4. It is the word “ekklesia,” literally means “called out ones.”

    5. It is typically translated as “assembly” or “congregation” outside of a religious context.

    6. While “church” can be a building, the way it’s used in our English Bibles is not.

    7. William Tyndale, who first translated the Bible into English, translated “ekklesia” as “congregation,” never as “church.”

    8. I only bring this up so that it is clear what we mean—the word translated as “church” is never a building, but a group of people.

    9. Why is this important?

  2. The Lord’s Church.

    1. It is important because it belongs to the Lord – Father gave her to Him.

      1. Therefore the church does not belong to us.

      2. In prophecy, it is not left to other people (Daniel 2:44).

      3. Church is described as one that belongs to Jesus (Rom. 16:16; 1 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 12:23).

    2. It is important because Christ purchased it with His own blood (Acts 20:28) – “the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

      1. We have been bought at a price (1 Cor. 6:20).

      2. We are the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23).

      3. In order to understand how precious this is, we must understand how precious Christ was.

    3. It is important because Christ is our precious Savior.

      1. Purpose of the OT was to bring us to Christ (Gal. 3:24-25).

      2. In the OT, justice was swift.

      3. Innocent blood must not be shed—consequences were severe depending on degree.

      4. Christ was innocent (Heb. 4:15; 1 Pet. 1:22) – Pilate recognized this (Luke 23:4).

      5. Christ was the perfect image of one who is innocent – most precious!

    4. Given value of church, what is our role in that church?

  3. The Lord’s Stewards.

    1. A steward is like a housesitter in the house of a friend.

    2. Who leads the church?

      1. Christ is its head (Eph. 1:22-23).

      2. Apostles and prophets lead it as inspired stewards (Eph. 4:11; 2:19-20).

      3. Evangelists, pastors (elders), teachers lead it as stewards (Eph. 4:11; 1 Cor. 4:1-2).

      4. Some of the latter were inspired, some not.

      5. Inspired stewards still lead the church through Scripture.

      6. Uninspired stewards study inspired stewards and follow them—ideally.

    3. Some uninspired stewards are false: Alexander, Hymenaeus, Philetus, Diotrephes.

      1. Such men were to be delivered to Satan—withdrawn from (1 Tim. 1:18-20; 2 Tim. 2:16-18).

      2. Diotrophes was told that his works were evil and he had not seen God (3 John 9-11).

    4. The Lord’s church must be protected.

      1. Jesus promises that the gates of Hades shall not prevail against His church (Matt. 16:18). Recall Daniel said the kingdom would be eternal (Dan. 2:44).

      2. That does not mean that local churches cannot fall—how many of the churches of Asia in Rev 2-3 still exist? (in all 7 cities, there are no churches except in what used to be Smyrna – Laodicea doesn’t even exist as a city anymore).

      3. What must the church be protected against?

        1. Sin – “a little leaven leavens the whole lump” (1 Cor. 5:6; Gal. 5:9).

        2. False doctrine – “exhort and convict those who contradict” (Tit. 1:9).

        3. Corrupting influences – “evil company corrupts good habits” (1 Cor. 15:33).

        4. Wolves within – “savage wolves come in to destroy” (Acts 20:29-30)

        5. Closing its doors.

      4. How can we protect it?

        1. “Preach the word!” (2 Tim. 4:2).

        2. “Give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:13).

        3. Encourage members to live righteously and holy by example (1 Tim. 4:12).

        4. Have leaders willing to confront false teaching and the wolves (Tit. 1:9).

        5. Be diligent and pray (1 Tim. 2:1-2).

        6. Evangelize, evangelize, evangelize! (Mark 16:15).

      5. This is the responsibility that we all must bear, for we are all stewards to some degree or another.

Conclusion.

  1. The church of Christ is the Lord’s shining city on a hill—not America (Matt. 5:14)

    “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

    1. It is a beacon for lost souls—Let the Lower Lights Be Burning!

    2. It is the only way to heaven – “the Lord added to the church those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).

  2. Earlier, we mentioned the shedding of the innocent blood of Christ.

    1. When Jews realized the severity of their sin, they were aghast (Acts 2:36-37).

    2. Peter told them to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).

    3. That’s what we ask you to do this morning …

    4. Don’t you want to be part of the church that Christ purchased with His own blood? Don’t you want to be among the redeemed?

    5. Don’t you want to be part of the church so precious and pure?

    6. Christ will present that church “to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:27).

    7. This is done, as we see, with the “washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:26).

    8. Will you obey that word and by baptized this morning?