At least to begin with I would ask you to open your Bibles please to first Corinthians in the first chapter as we At least early on we'll pass through that portion of the word first Corinthians chapter 1 now Brethren, I thank you for your prayers the last Weekend as I had the privilege of preaching at that conference at Temple Reform Baptist in Hall River, North Carolina the theme was how should a church operate, or the more technical language, ecclesiology, the doctrine of the church, and especially what scripture says about the local church. Now, in speaking with your other pastor, Scott, about this. We thought that maybe a couple of those messages, even though it's material with which you are conversant, might be handy to just a quick reminder. And so this morning is actually what was message number one down in Haw River. And then this afternoon, we'll come to what was message number five, the final message there. in Hall River. So, sorry, 2, 3, and 4 get left out. But nonetheless, that's where we thought it would be helpful to go. Now, in that conference, we were looking mainly at church government. But quite honestly, when we're talking about ecclesiology or how a church should operate, it really involves much more because this heading could include everything to do with church order and church life, even very practical matters. I mean, things like public worship or emphasis on corporate prayer, the role of women, how to get along, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit, the bond of peace, ties with other churches, our involvement in missions, as well as our own local outreach. You get the point. All facets of church life really do come under that heading of how a church should operate or, if you please, ecclesiology. But does it really matter how a church functions? I mean, there are so many opinions and practices out there. Why should we really care, even with regard to church government? You've got major differences, Episcopalianism, Congregationalism, Presbyterianism. And then under each of those broader headings, well, you've got almost countless variants. Well, as to church life, how things are to be done. in the church. Well, come on, that varies from church to church, including who or what it is that determines how things are to be done. Sometimes it's just the personal preferences of a relative few. or acting on whims, or maybe it's tradition. That's what determines what the church is to do. Or maybe we don't want tradition. It's current trends, whatever happens to be going on popular at the time. Or there's this and that committee, and they're deciding things. Or sometimes it's just a thoughtless pragmatism. It works. Why even think about it? You see the point. There's quite a variety of opinions and practices as to how a church should operate and how it's to be governed as well. And therefore, does it really matter? And can I say, it does matter. Well, wait a minute, if it works, isn't that good enough? And if what works one place, is that supposed to work every place? Well, no, we insist that it's not a matter of pragmatism. as to how the church functions. It does matter, and it's important that we at least try to get it right. And I say that for three reasons. Firstly, this, it's important because of whose church it is. It's not ours. It's not our church. Indeed, if it's a true church, it's the church of God. Now that's true of course of the church universal. You remember how Paul would speak to those elders of the church of Ephesus about it's the church of God that you're overseeing which he purchased with his own blood. Well that's true of the church universal, all of Christ's redeemed. But We see that's no less true of the specific congregation, the church local, as we see, for instance, in 1 Corinthians. Notice chapter 1, beginning of verse 1, Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God and Sosthenes, our brother, to the church of God. which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call in the name, on the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, both theirs and ours." Now, mind you, these words are very telling about a local church and its function, made up of believers and the like. But the point is, he's referring to that specific congregation right there in Corinth as, this is the church. It's not your church in Corinth. This is the church of God. In 2 Corinthians, we could appeal there, verse 2 of chapter 1. He says, very much identical to the church of God. at Corinth. It's God's church, not man's. And so that means that when Paul would write later in this letter, he would write in terms of God's ownership of that body. Please come to 1 Corinthians chapter 3. I think last Lord's Day, Pastor Scott, both morning and afternoon, preached from this very passage, or at least made reference to it. 1 Corinthians 3 and verse 16. Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and it's a plural, all of you are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you, or the old King James, ye are. Here he's not talking about, as he does later in 1 Corinthians 6, about your body as the temple and dwelt by the Holy Spirit. That's true. That's not his point here. He's writing to that specific congregation in Corinth, and he's saying, you are the temple of God. Now you know how, for instance, Ephesians chapter 2, the church universal is referred to as the temple of God. Well, that's true. And here the Apostle Paul is saying of that specific congregation, ye, you, are the temple of God. Now he's not talking about the building, right? We understand that. He's talking about the gathered saints where God dwells by his Holy Spirit. Not a building, but you. As with the church universal, you, there locally, you belong to God even as His temple. He's right there dwelling among you. He's not an owner from afar. He dwells there when you're gathered by His Holy Spirit. As very among his people, very active, Paul uses the same language again over in 2 Corinthians 6 when he talks about you are the temple of God where God dwells, where God walks among you. So right there when you're gathered together, it's God's church, the church of God. of God, for which he clearly has a high regard and even a zeal. When Paul uses that strong language, anyone defiles this temple, God will destroy him. At the very least, it goes to show God's concern for that temple. That is to say, it's not for man to do just whatever he pleases. Wait a minute, remember King Uzziah in the Old Testament, how he decided to go into the temple to burn incense, even though it was only for priests to do, but he decides he's going to go in. That didn't go over real well, did it? The leprosy and the like. Well, the point is, it's still the same. It's God's temple. It's not for us to say, Whatever we want, whatever works, that's good. Now hold on, hold on. It's not our church. It's his, and that's to affect our conduct. That's why Paul is appealing to this in 1 Corinthians chapter three. This is to direct our conduct. Similarly, Romans 16, verse 16, in that long list of greetings that Paul covers there, he refers to local congregations as the churches of Christ. These greet you. Churches. You're not talking about church universal, you're talking about churches local. And it's in the genitive, churches of Christ. These churches are his. Just as surely as when he said of the church universal, I will build my church, the gates of hell not prevail, well so too of those local true churches, he's saying these belong to Christ. And of course, that's no contradiction with Church of God. As we see Acts 20, 28, it's the Church of God which He purchased with His own blood. God manifests in the flesh to redeem a people. And again, where that speaks of the church universal, well, so too with that local church there in Ephesus in Acts 20. This is His. He bought it at such a high price, even through the blood of Jesus Christ. And when Paul wrote those words in Acts 20, or sorry, when Paul spoke those words in Acts 20, 28, to those Ephesian elders, he says, you take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock, to shepherd the church of God, over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, that which he purchased with his own blood. Why is he saying that? That specific congregation there in Ephesus, that's his. Christ bought it, and therefore you'd better take care, you elders, as to what you do. In other words, here is why church government, church order, church life is so important, because of whose church it is and how it is his church. It's his redeemed, Christ's coming, suffering, dying to redeem a people for himself. Well, that surely is enough to settle the matter. Is it important? That's what a church does, how it operates. Yeah, it's his church, but we're not done yet. Because the Bible plainly says that Christ is the head of the church. His church is his body. He is the head. You're familiar with that kind of language. If you're familiar at all with the New Testament, you know that, for instance, in Ephesians chapter 4, chapter 5, this is stressed. The church is his body. He himself is the head. Please come to Colossians chapter 2. Three times in Colossians you find this emphasized of Christ the head and we're the body. But notice especially what is said of in verse 19 of Colossians 2. He's talking here about some false religious and they were not holding fast to the head from whom all the body nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments grows with an increase that is from God. Now these people that he's referring to, they were actually heretical, but they were religious. But they're false religionists. And in all their religion, here's what they're not doing. They're not holding fast to the head. They're not tied in to Christ in that living union with him. But Paul's whole language shows this is what is true. of all of his people, and Paul's referring to that church specific there in Colossae. Those who are true believers, here's what they were doing. They were all holding fast to Christ, who's the head. And of course, the language here, just like over in Ephesians 4, is that we receive from him all that is needed for health and growth of the body, and that would include each individual. What about you? You're clinging to Christ and receiving grace from him, all you need by way of health and strength and growth? Well, the analogy also speaks of his love and his tender care. Remember how when Paul is writing about husbands loving your wife, it says, no man ever hated his own body. And then he appeals to Christ and how he deals with his body, nourishes and cherishes. Well, again. Referring to Christ, our living union, receiving from him what we need, and that out of his disposition of love, his great care towards all in the body, especially this idea of head, the head of the body, it speaks of all functioning together. in union, under his headship, in connection of life in him. So when Paul writes to a specific congregation, Corinth of all places, 1 Corinthians 12, 27, he says, you, right there in Corinth. Now, yes, we know, church universal, that's the body, Christ the head. But wait a minute, Paul says of that specific congregation, you are the body of Christ and members individually. So what is true, not just the universal, but the local. Christ is the head of the body. And that surely carries with it the idea that he is the one who rules. It's his authority the church is to operate under. Again, Colossians 1.18, he is the head of the body, the church. There in Colossians 1, he's just been saying that Christ is really the ruler over all creation. It was all created for him and through him. And he's also head of the body. He rules over that as surely as he does all of creation, so that in all things, Paul says, he may have the preeminence in all things. Creation or the spiritual realm, Christ, preeminence, first place, ruling over all. Again, that applies to the church local holding fast to the head. This idea of Christ as head of the church, meaning ruler of the church, is brought out very clearly in Ephesians chapter five. Please come there, Ephesians in the fifth chapter. Ephesians chapter five, you're familiar with this. Instruction to husbands and wives. He deals first with the wives, verse 22. Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord, for the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church, and he is the savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands and everything. Now, what we must understand, yes, okay, he's speaking here especially of the church universal, but it underscores again, when it refers to Christ as head of the church, It means he rules. And it is for the church to be subject to Christ in everything. It's not like, well, whatever you feel like doing. You know, today your whim is leading you in this direction. Pragmatism, no, no, no, no. No, no, here's what you do. Here's the case that Christ is the head of the church and he's the one then who has the right to say what goes. And we are then under his rule and to be submissive in all things. And that's true of us as individuals, right? That's true of us certainly, each Christian. But no less is that true of that church, which is his body. It's for the church to do what he says, and his will should be done in local congregations, in all things, including the order and government of the church. How seriously do we take this? Christ is the head of the church, even lived out in this specific congregation. You familiar with the Scottish covenanters? 17th century Scottish covenanters? Many of them were martyred, put to death by the king and those under him. What was that all about? Well, if you're familiar with the covenants, perhaps you've read the quotes like the one man who would ask, why is this? Why are you dying? Why are you being put to death? The king would be head of the church, he says, and we wouldn't have it. The king is not. head of the church. Christ is the head of the church and we've covenanted together and they would shed their blood standing for Christ's headship. He alone is head. So to them, Christ's government of his church was that important? Let me ask you, is it that important to us? Well, we don't have a king who now is trying to usurp Christ's position. But are there not other things that usurp Christ and his headship? I've already referred to pragmatism. Well, it works. We don't need to bother with anything else. It works. Or maybe it's majority rule. Well, you know, the majority, that's it. Or maybe it's just rule by committees. Whatever it is, is it usurping what Christ has said? And that brings me to this. If Christ is the head, if he is the ruler in his church, well, doesn't that require us to know how it is that he does rule? And that brings to the matter that underscores the importance of this subject. That is, God's word shows us how his church is to be governed. And it is sufficient for his rule in the church. To quote our own confession, the 1689 London Baptist Confession, the very first paragraph and the very first chapter, Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience. Well, clearly, that takes in all of life. Our confession simply reflects what Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy chapter 3 and I would ask you to come there please. 2 Timothy and the 3rd chapter. 2 Timothy chapter 3. Words with which I know you are very familiar. Verse 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God. You could translate it, all scripture is God-breathed. It's that much God's word in the original autograph, as if God-breathed. And it's profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. Paul's heaping up words there, all underscoring the sufficiency of scripture. Now, when he says that the man of God, he's referring to people like Timothy. Obviously, he could have said that you, Timothy, should be thoroughly equipped for every good work. But Paul's broadening it out. Not just you, Timothy. Those who are engaged in official gospel labors, in a position of authority in the church. It's not just for you. For anyone like you. Those who labor for God in an official capacity to do good to souls. The man of God. whoever he is, whatever generation, whatever culture, that the man of God should be thoroughly equipped by the word of God. That is to say that all such should have everything they will ever need in their service for Christ in doing good to souls. So what's a preacher going to preach? Well, it's sufficient right here. You don't need your own ideas. You don't need the latest guru. You've got the word of God. What about counseling? You know, pastors engage in shepherding. Sometimes that involves counseling, and boy, you can get some real thorny issues. How am I gonna deal with that? And here's a situation. Well, Paul's saying that any man of God, any time, any culture, everywhere, has exactly what he needs sufficient right here, thoroughly equipped for every good work, dealing with even the most difficult cases. No, no. Timothy, every man of God, he's got what he needs in God's truth. Now, of course, if scripture is sufficient for any man of God, what any pastor, for instance, will ever have to deal with in counseling or the like, well, then we can conclude from that. That means it's certainly sufficient for whatever I face, right? Me as a Christian, you as a Christian, whatever we face day by day, this book, God's Truth, a lamp to our feet, a light to our path to direct every step of the way, whatever any one of us might face. Since this, in verse 17, speaks especially of those laboring in an official capacity, does that not include church life? How a church is to operate, what's to be done in the church, how a local church is to function, its government, its order? Surely, Paul's words include this. It's sufficient. We're not left to our own smarts. Not left to the whims of men and personal agendas or following the ways of this world. Bless God. We have the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule for all of life, and that includes all of church life. What a church is supposed to do? That means that Christ as the head rules by his word. All we are to believe, all we are to do in all of life, and all that is churches are to be and believe and do as churches, at least by way of order and government. Again, let me quote the words of our own confession. Paragraph six of chapter one. There are some circumstances concerning the worship of God and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the word, which are always to be observed. So there are some things that, OK, we can see just the light of nature here. But notice the framers rightly got it when they said some things. Not the entirety of worship, not the entirety of the government of the church, because scripture does say much in these connections, doesn't it? Well, it certainly does. Now, granted, lovers of Christ and of scripture have differed in particulars in their understanding of scripture, obviously. And yet we are united in this. We must be united, that Christ is the head of the church and he rules by his word and it's for us to follow in all of life no less in church life and church government but how does he administer his rule how does he direct by his word Well, again, obviously not by speaking audibly from heaven, and we can actually be grateful for that. You remember that even when the law was given in Mount Sinai, the people didn't want to hear God speak again audibly to them. Well, I would dare say if Christ started speaking out commands from heaven, now you're going to do this in the church, it would probably be a bit unsettling to say the least, right? So, but scripture shows that it is by his word as administered by men who are entrusted by him with authority. That is to say, men that he himself has equipped and given to the church. Notice the language of Ephesians 4 11. Ephesians chapter 4. And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. Now, let me say a word first about this language, some pastors and teachers. It's not like some pastors and some teachers. Even as it's reflected in the English translation, you could almost put a hyphen there. Some pastor teacher. Right? That's one and the same. It's not two different groups. But, okay, what about these others? Well, the apostles. Well, that was those hand-picked representatives back in, that our Lord Jesus himself chose. Then you got the prophets. Well, these were recipients of direct revelation that was communicated to the church. And let me say that these are not continuing offices in the church. Apostles and prophets in chapter 2 and verse 20 of this very letter were told how the church was built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. Well, you don't keep laying a foundation. Here we are 2,000 years later, we're going to lay the foundation again, right? Well, no, obviously not. It's the foundation, even as the Lord Jesus had said, John 14, John 16, that all truth would be given to them, that is to say the apostles and with them the prophets. As to evangelists, well, that one's a little bit tricky because it's only found in a couple of places. We don't have any list of qualifications for, quote, evangelists. It's not the guy who's standing out handing tracts on the street corner or the guy who goes around in different churches preaching revivals. I know that's, in both cases, that's how the language is used. It seems that it was referring, especially since Timothy's told you do the work of an evangelist, as apostolic representatives. It was their job, especially, as an appointed by an apostle representative. Well, if that's the case, then obviously we don't have evangelists going around today in the same sense as is intended. But nonetheless, it was men that Christ gave. By the way, that would be why we don't have any qualifications. As to deacons and elders, well, we got their qualifications. We know who they are, what they look like, et cetera. We don't have anything for evangelists. So it makes more sense to see a Timothy. You're an apostolic representative. You do the work of one there in Ephesus. But undeniably, though, this office, pastor, teacher, that is a continuing office all the way to the end of Christ's giving. The word pastor simply means shepherd, shepherd, teacher. And this is what Christ does in administering his, he gives these, he himself, it's underscoring there, it's his work as the head. Not that these men put themselves into that position as if it's simply a chosen vocation. You know, when I grow up, I think I'm gonna be a preacher. Well, hold on, there's more to it than that. It's not that the church or any human hierarchy put them in office. You know, some big wig up there in the nomination headquarters, he said, you're the guy for that and therefore you guys have to submit it. No, he himself has entrusted recognized men with authority, his authority to be exercised in the church as they rule by his word, through his word. And it's this that we find, for instance, in First Thessalonians chapter five. Notice that if you would, First Thessalonians chapter five. Paul writing to those believers in Thessalonica and he says, verse 12, and we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake and be at peace among yourselves. Notice, they are over you. These are men. Yeah, but they're over you in the Lord, and here's the work they're doing, and you're to esteem them very highly and love because of it. They're admonishing. They're giving you the very word of God. You've got this language in Acts 20-28 in 1 Peter 5-2, they are overseers. The Old King James translates it bishop at times, but the idea there, oversee, they superintend. Also, they're called shepherds, 1 Peter 5, also Acts 20, to shepherd the flock. Well, we know what that means. It's not like the shepherd sits back and, okay, sheep, let's take a vote here. What do you want to do today? What pasture do you want? Well, obviously, they're responsible to protect, but also to lead. Then you've got language in 1 Timothy 3 when it's the list of qualifications for those who are to be recognized as elders. And it says he must rule his house well because if he doesn't know how to take care of his own house, how will he take care of the Church of God, meaning that the elders then have a place like a father and a house all there to exercise authority, God-given authority on his behalf, but for the well-being of all those who constitute that house. Well that's the idea of authority and trusted. Or come to Hebrews chapter 13, we've seen this as we're going through the book of Hebrews, verse 7 Remember those who rule over you, who've spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Verse 17, obey those who rule over you and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls. As those who must give account, let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. And then verse 24, greet all those who rule over you and all the saints. those from Italy greet you." Well here you have these three verses that speak of those who rule over you. Verse 7 seems to speak in the past. They've had an outcome of their conduct. Remember we looked at that some time ago, an exit as it were. So it seems these are rulers who are no longer on the scene, who in the past spoke the word of God to you. But they still had others whom Christ had given. They watch for your souls as those who are given account. They rule over you. But the point is, you've got three times emphasized that there are men with delegated authority. The very word rule. Not a supreme authority. It's a word used for a governor over in 1 Peter 2. It's the word used of Joseph as he was ruling under Pharaoh. It's real authority, but wait a minute, it's somebody else's authority. It's delegated to them. And as verse 7 shows, they rule by the word, that very word that is expounded and applied and followed. And in verse 17, it's a spiritual oversight. They are accountable for souls, accountable to Christ. Well, that's a rather hurried run through it, but these verses and others can speak of men ruling in Christ's church, but only according to Christ's rule. He's the head. The pastor's not the head. Elders, they're not the head. They're recognized As such, by the church, you've got these qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Here's a composite sketch. Here's what they look like. Each one of these must characterize the man. And then, being recognized by the church, they exercise that authority by Christ's word as it's open, applied, and followed. Well, that, in a thumbnail, is a quick answer to, does it really matter how a church functions? Isn't that important? Well, I hope I've carried your conscience, it is. It's not our church, it's God's. Christ is the head of the church, and his word is sufficient for all of life, including all of church life. Well, that being so, I just want to draw out an observation and an application. Firstly, the observation. What privilege and dignity are ours as God's church, as a visible expression of the church of Christ. It is unspeakable privilege that we who are sinners by nature and practice have been reconciled to God through the death of his son, that he would come into this world to save sinners. even to give himself so as to redeem us from every lawless deed and purify unto himself his own special people, zealous for good works, Titus 2.14, or that he would love the church universal as his bride. and give himself so as to now, through the washing of water, the word, preparing for that day, sanctifying, and then at last presenting us redeemed sinners to himself as his own spotless, perfect, what unspeakable privilege is ours. that we should be heirs of God, even joint heirs with Christ, that God's predetermined purpose, Romans 8, 29, is that we should be fully conformed to the image of his son. We'll come back to that, God willing, this afternoon. Well, what mercy, what grace, what love have been shown to us and will forever be shown to us. But also this, while in this world, With all of our faults and failures and remaining corruption, we are joined as God's church. It's our privilege to be God's temple. With glory far excelling that of Solomon's temple in the Old Testament, right? That was but a type. That was but a picture. But we're the reality. Remember how David in that Davidic covenant was told in 2 Samuel 7 that your son will build the house? Well, it wasn't simply pointing to Solomon building that physical temple, but David's greater son, the Messiah coming and building that true temple, that spiritual temple. And he does so even by way of specific congregations, local churches. And so Paul can say, you, are the temple of God, where God dwells by His Spirit. Or again, He says in 2 Corinthians 6, here you are, God meets with you. He's dwelling among you there. He's walking among you. Really? That's not a type. The Old Testament was a type. The physical, that was a type. But that invisible, that's the reality to which all of that glory pointed. How much more glorious. What privilege that we should be so joined together as a visible expression of God's temple. that we should be Christ's body in a living relationship with him as our head. That living union in which we are loved and cared for by him and receiving all necessary grace from him in living union with him and therefore with one another. And he's the one who says, where two or three are gathered together in my name, I'm there in the midst of them. And as you well know, that doesn't mean where two Christians happen to meet out at Walmart or Sam's Club and, well, there he is. Well, that's not what he means there when he says, in my name. But rather, it's under his authority to glorify him. Well, that's what a church is. That's what a church does. And so he says, for two or three, my name, I'm there in the midst. Or how about 1 Timothy chapter 3, when Paul's writing to Timothy and he's saying, you know, I hope to come among you soon, but if I'm delayed, I'm writing, so you know how to conduct yourself in the house of God, or it could be translated household family of God, which is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and ground of the truth. It's both the pillar and the foundation that preserves and promotes God's truth in the earth. Now, that could be said of the church universal, but really Paul's writing about that specific church there in Ephesus, and that's what you are. What privilege? The family of God? That chosen assembly where God meets with his people? And entrusted with his truth to preserve and promote it in the air? Every local church, every true church of Christ, that's it, that's it. This is you, dear brother, dear sister, this church. Well, what privilege? Talk about grace, oh, what grace to a bunch of redeemed sinners. Not because, you know what, we're such good people, we really got this, we deserve, no. Redeemed and yet so reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, so accepted by God through Jesus Christ. entrusted with this great privilege. And therefore, what dignity is given to a local congregation? What dignity? It's not some human organization. It's not some social club, you know, you got elks and moose and what other animals are out there, and the church. No, no, it's not just a social club. It's not some insignificant group of people meeting somewhere like in a rented quarters in a place like Bluefield. It's the church of the living God, specially regarded and cared for by Him, where He dwells by His Spirit, meets with His people, enables them to worship and receives their worship even as well pleased with the sacrifice of praise that they bring. What dignity. is given. Well let me ask you, is that how you see this church, especially in our gatherings? This is not simply what we want to be, it is, it is, but wait a minute, I've just been quoting scriptures. This is what we are by God's grace. This is His regard for us. Again, what privilege, what dignity, What grace? God's esteem for his churches, for this church. Well, is it your esteem of the local church? Any sense of awe or gratitude or even eager to meet together as God's church? I trust that is so. Does it really matter how Church, how this church operates, government and church order and church life, does it really matter? Oh, it matters. And that brings me to the application. Since this is what we are by God's grace, his church, then it's for us to be what we are. That's our responsibility, to live up to the truth. This was Paul's point when he writes in Ephesians chapter three and four. Please come there, Ephesians chapter three. Now again, I know Paul is writing here especially about the church universal, all Christ's redeemed people everywhere. When he says, well, let me start verse 10. to the intent that now, Ephesians 3.10, the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places according to the eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. So here the church having that special place, I'm talking now about the church universal, in which he displays his manifold wisdom by this people, the church, especially Jew and Gentile being joined together as one body, joint heirs, that's what he's addressing in this context. But being a display of God's manifold wisdom to notice the language again, not simply to a bunch of people in this world, but rather as God's eternal purpose that this should be done, displayed, made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. That language is used in chapter one of the angels. That wording is used in chapter six of the demons, Satan and his hellish hosts. The point is, through this redeemed people, Christ's church, it's God's eternal purpose to display his manifold wisdom even to angels and demons. Then he says in verse 21, to him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Again, that's obviously referring not to a specific congregation. That church in Ephesus, he's talking about the church universal, right? However, he is writing to a specific congregation. And it's to that congregation he says, in light of what I've just said about the church, its privilege, its dignity, now do this, verse one of chapter four. Therefore, I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all loneliness and gentleness, with long suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace, and on and on he goes, right here saying, you in Ephesus. Here's what you are, here's the dignity, you're part of this grand church. Right there in Ephesus, it's for you to be what you are. And he gives them instruction about church life, especially maintaining the unity of the spirit, their love for one another. That which I've referred to already from 1 Timothy 3. Here, you're the house of God, the church of living God, pillar and ground of the truth. Paul says that so you might know how you ought to conduct yourself in that. That is to say, as that. To be God's family. To be that assembly that meets with God. To be the pillar and ground of the truth. Or when Paul writes in 1 and 2 Corinthians, you're God's temple. Well, that means you're to worship God right there as his temple where God meets with you. There should be that reverence, that joy, and that drawing near to God and God drawing near to you in your corporate worship. Under Christ, our head in that living relationship. We're to be what we are. It's submissive in all things. That's not just us individually, but certainly for us as a church. You get the point. Here's the dignity. Here's the privilege that is ours. But in light of that, scripture says, now live it. Be what you are. This is what you are by God's grace. Well, right there, each of you, and all of you together as a church, consciously, on purpose, be what you are, in utter dependence upon your living head, all being joined to him, in confidence in his grace, and aiming that which I've read in verse 21, that God should be glorified, not just in the church universal, but in the church local, and he's able to exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think. So, Reverend, all of that to say here's the point of application. Keep a clear view of our privilege and our dignity as a church, and then be what we are. Well, are you? Will you? Let God help us. So to do. To the glory of God. in the church through Jesus Christ. If you're not saved by Christ, you're really like those false religionists to which I've referred, to which Paul refers in Colossians chapter two and verse 19. They were religious, but they're not holding fast to the head. They have no living relationship with Jesus Christ. They have no life. In fact, they were under the wrath of God, even though they were religious. And in fact, as Jesus said to some very religious people in John chapter 8, you're of your father the devil. If you're without Christ, that's you. That's you. And at last, you will share your father's eternal misery when Jesus says, depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. That's you. If you're without Christ, you die without Christ. But you're not without hope. Christ came into this world to save sinners, all kinds. He suffered the just in place of the unjust that he might bring us to God. He now ever lives to save to the uttermost all who come to God by him. And he invites where he commands sinners to come. And those who come, no way will he cast them out. That's Christ. If you're without Christ, it's not the church that you need. It's Christ the head of the church, the savior of sinners that you need. But I'm happy to say he is here now, he's ready, he's willing, he's able to save all who put their trust in him. Go to Christ. And so the question, will you have Christ? Will you have him? Will you know the true and living God as your loving, heavenly Father? Or will you continue on with Satan as your father all the way to the end and forever? Which is it gonna be? Believe on the Lord Jesus, you will be saved. My God, grant mercy. Let's pray. Father in heaven, we do thank you for your great love to sinners. sending your only begotten Son, Lord Jesus, that you would give yourself in order to redeem a people, even your own bride, your own church, forever and ever. Well, we thank you for the privilege and for the dignity that are ours. And we ask that you would help us to be very mindful of these things as we see them in your word, that we would think this, and it would then work out as we would carefully live under your headship, Lord, that we would seek to do your word in all of life, certainly what we do in local church life, and help us to be a worshiping people as the temple of God. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.