JESUS CHRIST IS LORD
By Herb Evans
August 1980
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Christ Is Lord Of Our
Actions
Christ Is Lord Of Our
Time
Christ Is Lord Of The
Home
Christ Is Lord Of The Local
Church
Conclusion
Christ is Lord! That goes without saying, whether His Lordship
is accepted or not. However, the Scriptures tell us that "no man can say that
Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Ghost" (1 Cor. 12:3). A man must be saved
in order to really own Jesus as Lord and to have the Holy Ghost dwelling
within him. However, in order for a Christian or a church to own Jesus as Lord,
they must display His Lordship. Christ is to be the Lord of our ACTIONS,
our TIME, our HOME, and the Lord of our CHURCH.
CHRIST IS LORD OF OUR
ACTIONS
BE A DOER
Thou hast faith, and I have works: SHOW ME
thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith BY MY WORKS ... --
James 2:18
Be ye DOERS of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves ... -- James 1:23
Why call ye me, Lord, and DO NOT the things which I
say? -- Luke 6:46.
Let us NOT LOVE IN WORD ... but IN DEED and IN
TRUTH ... -- 1 John 3:18
The unsaved world even recognizes, "Actions speak louder than words."
They require folks to "Put up, or shut up!" Although we can hardly endorse their
language, we can, however, be sympathetic to their just demands. For the Lord
Jesus Christ to be owned as the Lord of our ACTIONS, we must be doers of the
Word, and not hearers only. If we profess to have faith, let us demonstrate that
faith with works. If we call Christ, Lord, let us do the things that He says. If
we say that we love Christ, our brethren, and the souls of men, let us
love in deed and in truth (Let our love be without dissimulation, based on God's
Word--not the sentimental slop that the modernist calls love). And let us not do
anything that will hurt or jeopardize them spiritually. We are our brothers'
KEEPERS.
BE A BLESSING
Pure religion and undefiled ... is this, to visit the
fatherless and widows in their affliction ... -- James 1:27
Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother
have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the
love of God in him? -- 1 John 3:17
Christians are to be a blessing rather than a problem. Many popular
organizations and institutions are the results of certain Christians and their
love and compassion and desire to be a blessing to others. We disdain the
social gospel and its intentions to substitute social service for the gospel,
however, we cannot minimize the true acts of compassion by God's people to the
brethren and to this world's unfortunates (accompanied by a gospel
witness). Many churches have such ministries - orphanages, homes for
children, homes for the aged, retarded, and deaf ministries, and even
hospitals. Many of God's people have entered into these ministries. God has
called each one of us to be a blessing to someone.
BE A TESTIMONY
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father
is this ... to keep himself UNSPOTTED from the world ... -- James
1:27
Awake to righteousness, and SIN NOT; for some have not
the knowledge of God ... --1 Cor. 5:34
The very least that a professing Christian can do is to live a decent life.
There are too many Christians who detract from the gospel rather than adorn it.
The world knows how a Christian should live, often times, better than the
Christian. If we do not look right, smell right, and act right, the world
knows about it. More important, our Lord knows about it. We are supposed to be
"ambassadors for Christ" (2 Cor. 5:20). We are to be holy or sanctified
representatives of our heavenly country and our King, Jesus. Whatever we do
either glorifies or brings reproach upon our King and our country,
heaven.
BE A TELLER
He that winneth souls wise ... -- Proverbs
11:30
Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men ... --
Matt. 4:19
Some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to
your shame ... -- 1 Cor. 15:34
To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the
weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means
save some -- 1 Cor. 9:22
They that be wise shall shine ... and they that turn
many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever ... -- Dan.
12:3
You don't have to run out and buy a book on, "How to Win Souls" in order to
get in on the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ said that if you
would but follow Him, He would make you fishers of men. It's just as natural for
a born again Christian to reproduce as it is for the human race to reproduce.
The Scripture calls a person, who will avail himself of this worthy
endeavor, "wise." He is also guaranteed a very "bright" future.
Neither Paul nor Jesus seemed to have a blanket soul winning plans for
everyone. They sought to win folks by whatever means was necessary short
of breaking the law of Christ (1 Cor. 9:21).
God promised us that He would bless His Word and that it would not return
void. Even a Hyper-Calvinist like Jonah had God's word blessed through him. When
a person sows the word in love and compassion, there is even more reason for God
to bless His word. Let us be tellers and not hearers only. Christ is the
Lord of our actions.
Someone has asked, "If the government arrested you for being a Christian (a
situation that is becoming more and more within the realm of possibility), would
there be enough evidence to convict you?" Let us rephrase that. Would
there be enough evidence to convict the officers and members of your
church?
What do you suppose, if this happened, they would look for in the way of
evidence? Well, the prosecuting attorney might offer the fact that you
were seen attending _____ Baptist _____ on such and such a date. Of
course, the defense attorney probably could easily offset such a charge with the
fact that you Only visit occasionally. The prosecutor would then examine
the roll to see if you were a member. If you were a member, defense might
point out that you joined years ago and that although you are on the roll, you
have not been very active. The next step for the prosecutor would be to examine
the church's financial records (incorporated church) to see how much you had
given during the past year. The defense attorney might, at this point, show you
had only given a meager amount and only because you were embarrassed into it,
when the plate was passed in front of you, and everyone else was putting
something into it.
Next, the prosecutor would probably call, as witnesses, your friends,
neighbors, and coworkers. He would question them about whether you drink,
smoke, curse, fool around, lie, run around half nude, tell off-color jokes, etc.
He would want to know whether you ever mentioned Christ or the Bible. The
defense would probably be able to appeal for a dismissal of the charges.
We are afraid that many professing Christians would easily be acquitted. Christ
is LORD of our ACTIONS.
CHRIST IS LORD OF OUR
TIME
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming
the TIME. -- Col. 4:5
The Lord considers our time to be important. He expects a portion of that
time to be given to Him as He expects us to give Him a portion of our money. It
would seem that an appropriate minimum goal to set for the time that we use for
the Lord would be a tithe or 1/10 multiplied times a 168-hour week or 17 hours
(16.8).
Of the 168 hours, we use about 56 hours a week for sleep; 40 hours for work
or school; 14 hours for eating; 8 hours for travel (work, groceries, etc.); and
6 hours for personal hygiene and preparation; a total of 124 hours. (Of course,
these figures vary from person to person to person.) This leaves about 44 hours
to be used for the Lord, yourself, and whatever. A Christian might use 17 hours
for the Lord and still have 27 hours a week (almost 4 hours per day) for family
time, dates, sports, special events, and special offerings of his time for
certain church projects, etc. He might use the 17 hours in the following
way:
Sunday
Services
6 hours (includes travel and preparation)
Wednesday
Service
2 1/2 hours
Visitation
2 1/2 hours
Prayer
& Bible
Study
6 hours
Total
17 hours
REDEEMING THE TIME BY STUDY
O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
Thou, THROUGH thy commandments hast made me WISER than mine enemies. I have more
understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
-- Ps. 119:97-98
And that from a child thou hast known the holy
scriptures, which are able to make thee WISE ... that the man of God may be
perfect, THROUGHLY FURNISHED unto all good works ... --2 Tim
3:15
STUDY to shew thyself approved unto God ... 2 Tim
2:15
God, through HIS WORD, is able to make us wise. The Psalmist spent his time
meditating in the Word of God. By meditating in God’s Word, he gained wisdom and
understanding. It would seem that we need to spend some of our time on something
that can make us wise. Young Timothy was told that the Scriptures were able to
make him not only WISE UNTO salvation but also other things that would throughly
FURNISH a man of God unto all good works.
It is true that all the wisdom we need to win the lost to Jesus Christ, is
John 3:16, and some have done just that. However, it may take John 3:5 to win
someone else. It is our obligation to equip ourselves with as much scripture as
possible in order to win as many different kinds of people as possible. We are
to STUDY to show ourselves approved unto God. (2 Tim. 2:15). Of course, that
takes TIME.
REDEEMING THE TIME BY WALKING CIRCUMSPECTLY
WALK CIRCUMSPECTLY, not as fools, but as wise,
redeeming the TIME, because the days are evil. --Eph.
5:15,16
Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I
hate every false way. -- Psa. 119:104
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By
taking heed thereto according to thy word. -- Ps.
119:9
Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin
against thee. -- Psa. 119:11
In order to redeem the time by WALKING in scriptural wisdom toward them
that are without, as our Text admonishes, and to not walk as FOOLS. Besides the
need to have wisdom, we need to walk circumspectly before the lost. We must be
careful of our every move and must judge, whether our moves will make either us,
our Saviour, or our brethren ashamed of us or cause the lost to despise us. We,
like a feline, need to know where to step; to know what is right and what is
wrong, BOTH in principle and by commandment. The Word of God can give us this
circumspect walk. We are told that we must study the Word of God so that we will
not be ashamed (2 Tim. 2:15). The Word of God will keep us from taking many a
foolish step.
The Word of God is a cleansing agent that will clean up a person's life and
walk. Not only will it cleanse a person, but it will act as a sin preventive.
Moreover, it will give a person solid convictions and even cause him to hate
sin. Cleansing, prevention, and conviction are the basic ingredients to a
circumspect walk.
TAKING TIME TO LET THE WORD OF GOD WORK IN YOU
The word of God and its benefits to us and this evil world is symbolized in
many places. If our wills need to be broken, the word of God is the "HAMMER"
that will do it (Jer. 23:29); if our hearts need to be melted, the word of God
is the “FIRE” that will melt it (Jer. 5:14); If we need to be cleansed, the word
of God is the “LAVER” that will cleanse us (Eph. 5:26); if we need guidance, the
word of God is the “LAMP” that will guide us (Ps. 119:105). If we need to
harvest some souls for Christ, the word of God is the incorruptible "SEED" that
will give birth to them ( 1 Pet. 1:23). If we need spiritual sustenance,
the word of God is the "BREAD" that will feed us (Matt. 4:4). If we need our
motives discerned, the word of God is the "SWORD" that separates the soul,
spirit, body and discerns the heart (Heb 4:12).
We must use a portion of our time to study this invaluable source of wisdom
and strength. Our God is eternal, without beginning and without end. He has all
the time in the world, for with Him, a thousand years is as but a day. However,
with mankind, it is a different story. The lost are warned that they may be
suddenly cut off from the land of the living to enter a Christless Hell and
eternity. The saved are constantly admonished that the time is short and that we
are in the last time and even the last days. Whatever we are going to do, we
must do it now. Let us resolve to make Christ the Lord of our time and to spend
more time in prayer and Bible study. Let us redeem the time, for the days
are evil! Christ is LORD of our TIME.
CHRIST IS LORD OF THE
HOME
Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain
that build it ... -- Psa. 127:1
There are two divinely ordained institutions, which are dear to the heart
of God, the CHURCH and the HOME. Without the Lord as their builder and
foundation, both will disintegrate and be and be in shambles. As with the
tabernacle, the temple, and church, there is a pattern for the "home" in
the Word of God. The integral parts of the home or family (father, mother,
children, husband, wife) must function according to the scriptural pattern in
order to survive and in order for the Lord to be owned as the Lord of the
home.
FATHERS
What son is he whom the FATHER CHASTENETH not? But if
ye be WITHOUT chastisement ... then are ye BASTARDS and NOT SONS ... --
Heb. 12:6
CHASTEN thy son WHILE THERE IS HOPE, and LET NOT THY
SOUL SPARE FOR HIS CRYING ... -- Pro. 19:18
TRAIN up a child in the way he should go. -- Pro.
22:6
Withhold not CORRECTION from the child ... Thou shalt
BEAT HIM with the ROD, and shalt DELIVER HIS SOUL FROM HELL ... -- Pro.
23: 13, 14
He that SPARETH his rod: HATETH his son; but he that
LOVETH him chasteneth him BETIMES [before it is too late] ... -- Pro.
13:24
Thou shalt TEACH them [God's words] diligently unto thy
children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house ... --
Deut. 6:7
A foolish son is the calamity of his FATHER ... --
Pro. 19:13
A young boy was giving his permissive mother a difficult time as she was
trying to convince him to go to Sunday School. The boy questioned her, "Did
Daddy go to Sunday School when he was a boy?" "Why certainly," was the mother's
reply, "Your father never missed Sunday." The boy retorted, "See, it won't do me
any good either!"
Often, we visit homes where the parents are both unwilling to be examples
to their children and unwilling to train them. They piously will adopt the
conviction that it is wrong to force their children to go to Sunday school.
However, they will manage to force them to go to public school, to take baths,
and so forth.
The reason that the children must be disciplined is that they are conceived
in sin having the sinful Adamic nature (Psa. 51:5), and they "go astray as
soon as they be born, speaking lies" (Psa. 58:3). Children have foolish
hearts, and Bible promises that the rod will drive that foolishness far away
(Pro. 22:15). The Bible rings with a sense of urgency in this matter. It
urges us to chasten our children while there is time. Talk about soul winning;
we can according to God's Word, deliver some of them from hell by whipping them
(Pro. 23:13,14).
We are not only to spank our children, we are to train, teach, love them.
If they are raised like pets, as Dr. Spock would have us do, they will be the
calamities of their father and a shame to their mother. Notwithstanding,
children raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord will not be provoked
to wrath (Eph. 6:4). Moreover, they will be a delight to their
parents.
A father, who truly loves his children, will spank them and will not spare
for their crying. However, a father who will NOT WHIP his children, according to
Proverbs 13:24, hates them. If he does not chasten them, he is treating them as
if they are illegitimate and not his.
MOTHERS
In SORROW thou shalt bring forth children ... --
Gen. 3:16
Notwithstanding, she shall be saved in childbearing if
they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety ... -- 1 Tim
2:15
... teach the young women to be sober ... to LOVE THEIR
CHILDREN, to be KEEPERS AT HOME ... -- Titus 2:4, 5
I will therefore that the younger women marry, BEAR
CHILDREN, guide [not boss] the house ... -- 1 Tim 5:14 (rather than to be
"idle," "tattlers," and "busy bodies" -- vs. 13).
... a child LEFT TO HIMSELF bringeth his MOTHER to
SHAME ... CORRECT THY SON, and HE SHALL ... give delight unto thy soul ...
-- Pro. 29:15-17
The Bible has an entirely different role for women than does the modern,
ERA (Eve Ruined Adam) world. Moreover the Bible is always current, always
right for men and women of any century. A Christian mother, often, has to
give herself unselfishly in order to transform her children into children of the
King. She may have to live sacrificially, and to surrender HER RIGHTS for her
children. The Bible instructs her to bear children, provide love for the
children, keep the home, guide the home establishing its tone and character. She
has within her grasp the potential of influencing many through her children.
When she has done her part faithfully, she can commit her family to God. Her
children will then "ARISE UP, and call her blessed ..." -- Pro.
31:28
CHILDREN
OBEY your parents in the LORD: for this is
right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with
promise;) --Eph. 6:1; Col. 3:20; Ex. 20:12; Deut. 5:16
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of
believer, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity
... -- 1 Tim. 4:12
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth ...
-- Ecc. 12:1
Although it is true that the more light a person has, the greater the
responsibility, and the more exposure to what is right and what is wrong, the
greater the judgment and punishment. However, the standards for
children, young children, young men, and adults remain the same. They do not
change nor do they come in degrees. Adults and children are all responsible for
obeying.
WIVES
Thy desire shall be unto thy husband, and he
shall RULE OVER THEE ... --Gen. 3:16
The wife see that she REVERENCE her husband ... -- Eph.
5:33
Wives, SUBMIT yourselves unto your own husbands, as is
FIT in the Lord ... -- Col. 3:18
... teach the young women ... to LOVE their husbands
... to be ... OBEDIENT to their own husbands, that the word of God be not
blasphemed ... --Titus 2: 4, 5
Wives, SUBMIT yourselves to your own husbands AS UNTO
THE LORD. For the husband is the HEAD OF THE WIFE ... as the church is
subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything ...
--Eph. 5:22- 24
...Ye wives, BE IN SUBJECTION to your own husbands ...
For after this manner in the old time the 'holy women also, who trusted in God,
adorned themselves, being in subjection ... Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham,
calling him Lord ... --1 Pet. 3:1-6
Let YOUR WOMEN keep silence in the church; for it is
permitted unto them to speak; but they are commended to be under OBEDIENCE ...
And if they will learn anything, LET THEM ASK THEIR HUSBANDS AT HOME: for
it is SHAME for a woman to speak in the church. -- I Cor. 14:34,
35
Let not the wife DEPART from her husband ... --1
Cor. 7:10
Subjection and obedience to the husband are demanded in both Testaments.
The Bible goes even as far as to demand that the woman reverence her husband.
Sarah is given as an example calling Abraham "Lord." The injunction that husband
would rule over the woman has not been rescinded, abrogated, modified, changed,
or obsoleted. A woman once asked, "'Where would you men be, if it were not for
us women?" The answer, of course, is simple: "In the garden of Eden!" It
is not a question of where anyone would be; it is a question of what the Bible
says. In this ERA society, there are many churches softening their stand on the
woman's place in church. We have heard of women teachers (over men),
women preachers, women deaconesses, and women song leaders in Baptist churches.
Obviously, someone is ignoring the Bible. The woman is not to put her two cents
in the affairs of the church, neither is she to usurp authority over the man,
neither is she to teach a man (1 Tim 2:11,12). Instead, she is to ask her
husband at home.
HUSBANDS
It is not good that the man should BE ALONE; I will
make him a HELP meet for him ... -- Gen. 2:18
... therefore shall a man leave his father and mother,
and shall CLEAVE unto his wife: And they shall be one flesh ... -- Gen.
2:24
The HEAD of the woman is the man ... --1 Cor.
11:3
Husbands LOVE your wives and BE NOT BITTER
against them ... -- Col. 3:19
LOVE your wives, even as Christ also loved the church,
and gave himself for it ... so ought men to love their wives AS THEIR OWN BODIES
... For no man ever hated his own flesh ... a man [shall] LEAVE his father and
mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be ONE FLESH ...
let everyone of you ... LOVE his wife AS HIMSELF ... -- Eph.
5:25-33
Ye husbands dwell with them according to knowledge,
giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs
together of the grace of life; THAT YOUR PRAYERS BE NOT HINDERED. --1 Pet.
3:7
... Defraud ye not other, except it be with consent a
time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together
again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency ... -- Cor.
7:3-5
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children
In subjection ... -- 1 Tim. 3:4, 5, 12
God has decreed that is not good for man to live alone. God remedied this
situation, initially, by making a HELP meet for the man--the woman. Since the
fall in the garden, it has been decreed by God that the man should rule over the
woman and be her head. However, this rule and headship are to be tempered by
LOVE. In fact, husbands are to love their wives AS THEIR OWN BODIES, willing to
lay their lives down for them, if necessary. Furthermore, she is to be honored
as the weaker vessel; not trampled under the foot; not given masculine
duties. Men, who expect their wives to act like women, need to treat them
like women. Failure to follow the Bible's pattern will result in hindered
prayers and worse. Christ is Lord of our HOME!
CHRIST IS LORD OF THE LOCAL
CHURCH
He is the HEAD of the BODY, the CHURCH ...
--Col. 1:18
The above title is a simple one and yet so many professing Christians do
not understand either the concept of the church or Christ’s Lordship/Headship of
that church. Perhaps, the confusion concerning the New Testament local
church is due to some of their former religious backgrounds of the confused
brethren.
Some of us were taught that the church was a super hierarchy with worldwide
control over its members. Others were taught that the church was an invisible,
nebulous, mystical entity composed of all believers all over the earth.
Some might even believe that the church is always the sanctuary or church
building. However the church of the New Testament is a congregation or an
assembly of scripturally baptized believers, covenanted together to
accomplish the threefold commission of Christ that is to get people saved, to
baptize them, and to teach them whatever our Lord and Saviour commanded (Matt.
28:19,20). The New Testament church has definite location, therefore,
consequently it called the "local church." The local New Testament church
is presented, in the Scriptures in the figure of a FLOCK, a HOUSE, a TEMPLE, and
a BODY. Consider each of them as follows:
THE FLOCK
Fear not little FLOCK ... -- Luke
12:32
FEED [pastor] the FLOCK of God which is AMONG YOU ...
-- 1 Pet. 5:2
Take heed to yourselves and to ALL the FLOCK over the
which the Holy Ghost hath made you OVERSEERS to FEED the CHURCH of God ... For
... grievous wolves enter in AMONG YOU, not sparing the FLOCK. --
Acts 20:28, 29
Elder/Bishop/Pastors are told to feed and to protect the FLOCK that God has
entrusted to them. The New Testament local church is a flock of God's sheep that
needs to be fed, encouraged, and protected from apostate wolves. Jesus was the
church’s first Pastor.
Church tramps and "Creek Bank" Christians, who have strayed from the flock
or who have never belonged to the flock, do not have the protection of a pastor
and seldom eat balanced spiritual meals and are fair game for wolves. They are
WILD ANIMALS themselves as opposed to this symbolic representation of the local
church as a passive, domesticated FLOCK of animals, having a Shepherd.
THE TEMPLE
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the
BUILDING FITLY FRAMED TOGETHER groweth unto an holy TEMPLE in the Lord: In whom
ye also are BUILDED TOGETHER for a habitation of God through the Spirit.
-- Eph. 2:20-22
The New Testament, local, Ephesian church, much like the Old Testament
tabernacle and temple, was to be builded together and fitly framed together to
be a habitation of God. However, this collective CHURCH / TEMPLE was to be
composed of humans for a habitation of God. Still, it was a TOGETHER CHURCH /
TEMPLE. (See 1 Cor. 3:16, 17; 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16 for “YE” plural) The apostles
and prophets became the foundation in the Gospels and not at Pentecost. Jesus
Christ became the cornerstone and stumbling stone in this neuter symbolic
representation of the local church in the Gospelsญnot at Pentecost nor in Paul’s
revelation.
YE also, as LIVELY STONES, ARE built up a SPIRITUAL
HOUSE, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices [on earth] ...
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief
CORNER STONE ... the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the
HEAD of the corner [on earth], And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of
offence[not in heaven but on earth], even to them that stumble at the word ...
-- 1 Pet. 2:5-8
For Moses was faithful in all his HOUSE [visible] as a
TESTIMONY of those things which were TO BE SPOKEN AFTER [also visible]; But
Christ as a son over his OWN HOUSE; whose HOUSE are WE, IF ... -- Heb. 3:5,
6
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. -- 2 Tim. 3:15
For the son of man is as a man taking a far journey,
who LEFT his HOUSE, and GAVE AUTHORITY to his servants, and to every man his
work, and commanded the PORTER [the Holy Spirit] to watch. -- Mark
13:34
Pastor Timothy was told how to behave in his local church, which was called
both the "church of the living God" and the "pillar and ground of the truth."
This house, is said to be a spiritual house (but not a mystical or invisible
house) with Jesus Christ over this house. While folks may not lose their
salvation, they can lose their "candlestick" (Rev 1:20, 2:5) (church legitimacy,
IF they do not maintain their steadfastness as Christ’s CHURCH/HOUSE.) It
is this earthly, visible HOUSE of God IN which Timothy was instructed how to
BEHAVE. You do not have to behave in an invisible house in Heaven. It is the
house, which existed when He was on the earth, which Jesus left authority in the
parable. He also provided for the Holy Spirit to watch after He was gone (John
14:16, 15:26, 16:7). Something that cannot be said about a mystical, invisible
house that was to be revealed by the apostle Paul but can be said of a neuter,
symbolic, house representation of the local church with neuter, symbolic stones
(church members).
THE BODY
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 ...
-- Eph. 4:11-12
The most graphic symbolic representation of the church, in the Scriptures,
is that of the MALE representative body of the Lord Jesus Christ. According to 1
Cor. 12 and other Scriptures, it is not a mystical, invisible, nor nebulous body
with all of its disorganized members scattered all over the earth and heaven.
Instead, it is a body that has definite location, whose members have been fitly
arranged in their proper places. These members are said to be "Fitly joined
together" (Eph. 4:16); "knit together (Col. 2:19); "tempered together" (1 Cor.
12:24); and "fitly framed together" (Eph. 2:21). The WHOLE body (Eph. 4:16)
comes together (something an invisible body cannot do). For as ONE bread
and ONE body, they can have communion together (1 Cor. 10:6). To this
body, pastors and teachers were given (Eph. 4:11-12; Rom. 12).
CHRIST IS LORD OF THIS FLOCK / TEMPLE / HOUSE / BODY
CHURCH
Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and DO NOT the things which
I say? -- Luke 6:46
Jesus Christ is the Lord of the flock, but the CHURCH FLOCK must prove His
Lordship by not straying. Christ is Master of the house, but the neuter CHURCH
HOUSE must demonstrate His Lordship by not being self willed (wanting their own
way) and by obeying Him as servants. Christ is Lord of the neuter CHURCH TEMPLE,
but the temple must show His Lordship by making Christ the only object of its
worship, having no gods nor idols before Him. Christ Lord of the male CHURCH
BODY and the neuter ONE BREAD BODY, but the body must display His Lordship by
functioning and working together according to the instructions given to it by
its HEAD.
For Christ to be owned as the Lord of the church, the church's members must
be willing to follow the Scriptures and also the leadership of the pastor, whom
God has appointed to watch over them. Christ is not owned as Lord of a church by
those, who ignore the Scriptures and seek to have their own way. Christ is LORD
and HEAD of the LOCAL, New Testament CHURCH, for there exists no other.
CONCLUSION
The New Testament represents the local church as a male (body of Christ), a
female (bride), a neuter (house/temple/bread), and a flock of sheep. These
cannot all be mystical, invisible, nebulous entities in heaven and earth.
Nevertheless, Christ is Head and LORD of the local church.
Christ is Lord! That goes without saying, whether His Lordship is accepted
or not. However, the Scriptures tell us that "no man can say that Jesus is Lord,
but by the Holy Ghost" (1 Cor. 12:3). A man must be saved in order
to really own Jesus as Lord and to have the Holy Ghost dwelling within
him. However, in order for a Christian or a church to own Jesus as Lord, they
must display His Lordship by actions.