Sovereignty: Basis For Church Unity - [1 Corinthians 12]

Bethlehem Bible Church

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November 8, 2015

00:00: Father, thank you for this morning that we can gather together. Thank you for Sunday that we gather as Remembering the
00:14: Lord's resurrection and that we serve a Risen and Savior and the
00:20: Living Lord. We thank you for the scriptures this morning as we gather together to to worship. We pray for the
00:27: Illumination the ministry of your Holy Spirit as we open the Word of God together. We ask these things in Christ's name.
00:32: Amen Let me give you a scenario to think about and I'd like to get your input and response in your years of wisdom
00:51: You have a friend who has Been talking to you about they go to a different church and They're kind of distraught over some of the things that are going on in their church they're
01:05: Telling you that there's some divisiveness in their church There's some jealousy going on and there's not that sense of unity that the
01:13: Bible speaks to Clearly so your friend comes to you and and asks you for some advice
01:21: First ask you two questions. First of all, what what do you think I should do? Is the question of your friend who goes to this church that is divisive?
01:30: And then they ask you a more important question why they're distraught because why is this happening in churches today?
01:38: Why is there this sense of no unity and sometimes? Divisiveness so what first of all would be your advice to your friend who says what should
01:48: I do? And then what would be your answer as to why? This may be the case in churches today that don't seem to be united in Christ, but seem to be divisive
02:00: Any takers? So the first question we're addressing what would you tell your friend as people are coming in the scenario is a friend of yours approaches you goes to a different local body and There is some divisiveness there and they ask you.
02:13: Well, what should I do about this issue? And then the second follow -up question is why do you feel why do you think there is this issue in churches today?
02:23: So what would you what would your advice to your friend be any takers?
02:33: Haven't drank your coffee yet. Yes Carol Yeah, okay
02:48: Okay Okay Okay, good. So what to do
02:54: Carol says a couple of things. No don't side with things unless there's obviously a biblical Issue involved you start with where the
03:01: Bible says and secondly to seek to be a peacemaker We're to be peacemakers and seek to help people reconcile good advice.
03:09: What else what other advice Frank? So you're saying we should do that or shouldn't
03:23: Okay Okay Okay.
03:45: Okay good Excellent. So good advice not to do. I'm sure none of you have ever been tempted to do this, of course, right?
03:53: If somebody oh, yeah, just come to our church, you know, that'll resolve all your problems We're the perfect church.
03:58: So not to do that The first thing not to do but then to ask inquire by asking questions
04:04: Does your pastor preach the Word of God does he preach the gospel is he shepherding the church and then to seek to be a light
04:10: And as Carol said by doing being a light to seek to be a peacemaker and reconcile a good good advice
04:17: Any other yes, Joni Okay All right.
04:22: Good. So in The same vein in the sense of if a person comes to you
04:27: She's saying that you because they're in that situation Might know but of course you can get outside wisdom but the question to ask him is have you prayed about it is what
04:35: Joni saying is Is it a matter of prayer for you? If it's that's a lot of times prayers like oh, yeah
04:42: There's that too, right the last resort. It shouldn't be our last resort But that as we talk to God tell them we read the scripture we get advice from others
04:51: Wisdom and from counsel, but also have you prayed about it? So in both cases different advice, but both
04:56: Frank and Joni if you notice ask the question With a question good way to give advice is the pastor proclaiming the gospel question
05:05: I want you the person to ask you what should I do in my church that seems to be divisive you ask questions the pastor
05:10: Proclaiming the gospel is he shepherding? Are you praying about it now this follow -up anybody else?
05:16: Okay, follow -up question is the person who wants to ask asks you not just about their specific situation
05:22: Why what what should I do about my church? It seems to be divisiveness Another thing by the way not to tell them to do is
05:30: Frank said not to tell me just come to our church We'll solve all your problems, but tell them what not to do is to gossip about it
05:36: So you've got to warn them about that to go to the right people to address it But they also want to ask you further there.
05:44: They're concerned about why is this the state? It seems like in many local churches today What would your response to them be so you gave him the advice about what to do be a peacemaker?
05:52: Is your pastor preaching the gospel is he shepherding the church? Are you praying about it? But now they ask you your friend.
05:58: Why do you think they're asking you for advice? Is this happening in churches today?
06:04: What would your response be? What would you say to them? Okay great? So in the same vein as Frank has the specific question the same question applies generally
06:13: Is it because possibly churches are not preaching the gospel are they pursuing? God -centered ministry or are they pursuing man -centered techniques in ministry?
06:23: Yes, Marie Okay, good So the reason why this is happening in response the answer to that question is because the our enemy is gonna attack
06:32: Where he's gonna attack he's not gonna attack in the bars And so we need to look to our the Holy Spirit as our comforter
06:38: It reminds me of a quote quote by Donald Gray Barnhouse They said I don't have the quote exactly but something to the effect of he says if Satan were to shut down a city
06:46: He would close all the bars close all the bad things in society and Quit smoking all this stuff the nightclub scene and everything and and keep the churches alive where Christ is not proclaimed
07:02: So because that's where his attack is as rightly put well this morning a great discussion.
07:08: I want us to see Primarily through the book of 1st Corinthians if you would turn there in your Bibles 1st
07:13: Corinthians chapter 1 Primarily answering the second question to our scenario not what should
07:19: I do about this? You know don't gossip about it. They'll just come to our church, but pray about it
07:26: Is the pastor proclaiming the the Word of God proclaiming the gospel seek to be a peacemaker all that is correct?
07:32: But I'm going to address the question why? divisiveness And As we will as I walk you through the book of Corinthians It takes us back what five six seven years ago when pastor
07:45: Mike was teaching through this preaching through this I want us to see as you'll see in your bulletin that the reason that we are to be united as A church and why churches ought to be united or the reason why?
07:59: Churches are not united and divisive is because they have a low view of the sovereignty of God Not Sure, I am a fanatic when it comes to theology
08:10: And I'm a fanatic when it comes to the sovereignty of God, and I don't want to just impose that on anything and everything
08:16: But what does the scripture teach? What does Paul say? Addressing the most divisive
08:22: Church of his day Which was the church in Corinth, and I want us to look at different chapters throughout the book throughout 1st
08:30: Corinthians and see as We trace the theme of sovereignty how it relates to church unity
08:37: Typically and rightly so biblically so we think of sovereignty in relation to salvation, correct?
08:43: That God is sovereign to choose us because we as spiritually dead people in our trespasses and sins
08:49: We're never left to our own devices choose him. We think of sovereignty and rightly so and biblically so in terms of Difficulty that happens in our lives trials that come that God Providentially allows those things in our lives to strengthen us to conform us to the likeness of Christ But I think we typically may not initially think of sovereignty as it relates to church unity
09:12: So it's funny AW Tozer said and I mentioned this in the membership class all the time the first step down for any church is when they abandon their high view of God The first step down for any church is when they abandon their high opinion of God so Theology proper the doctrine or the study of God Just doesn't relate to the character of God and just doesn't relate to soteriology the doctrine of salvation
09:37: But it directly relates as we will see to ecclesiology the doctrine of the church
09:43: So how does sovereignty play into the unity in the body? Let's take a look let me begin in turn to chapter 1 where it's starting in 1st
09:52: Corinthians 1 and Let's consider that question as we read through this passage.
09:57: You'll see them. Hopefully come out as we discuss this Let's begin in verse 10.
10:03: I'll read and follow along there Paul writes I appeal to you brothers, so he's there's a sense of urgency there in the terminology.
10:10: He uses I the appealing I Appeal to you brothers by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that all of you agree in that there be no divisions among you but that you be united in the same mind in the same judgment and Now that's a general statement.
10:26: He gives them and now he gets into the details the specifics of what has brought them division and disunity verse 11
10:34: For it had been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you my brothers
10:40: What I mean is that each one of you says well, I follow Paul Well, I follow
10:46: Apollos Well, I follow Cephas or I follow Christ Question is
10:56: Christ verse 13 divided was Paul crucified for you
11:04: Well, were you baptized in the name of Paul I thank God that I baptized none of you Except Crispus and Gaius so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name
11:13: I did baptize also the household of Stephanus beyond that I do not know whether I baptize anyone else for Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel and not with words of eloquent wisdom
11:26: Lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power So what is
11:32: Paul's argument here? What's his? line of thinking through his questions and Statements in response to the division that's happening.
11:41: Well, first of all, let's what why were they divisive based upon what Paul writes here? What was the division in Corinth caused by?
11:51: What teacher they followed? Yeah, we teach it. I'm calling pastor Steve Now, I don't know pastor
11:58: Mike is better What teacher well, but yeah, but I follow Christ you see how he tagged it in at the end
12:03: You guys might follow human teachers, but I follow Christ What what was his response to all that How he did debunk all that Larry Okay, meaning
12:21: Okay is Christ divided. Should there be division in Christ? No And notice the follow -up question right after that which explains a little bit in more detail what he meant by the question is
12:31: Christ divided next question Was Paul I crucified for you
12:40: The pastor was not none of the pastors were Paul was not church planter missionary
12:49: Because God did not send him. Well, why did God send Paul? What does Paul say in the
12:55: Passage we read what was the reason he was sent by God to do what? to preach the what the gospel which is
13:03: Based later on 1st Corinthians 15 same book. What is the gospel? Power of God into salvation
13:11: Romans 1 16. Yeah, it's the power of God not the power of man But the content of the gospel is what 1st
13:16: Corinthians 15 is of what's the gospel? Christ crucified and then
13:23: And he rose again first importance right that Christ died for our sins Christ crucified and that's his emphasis here
13:29: Christ is the one who was crucified Not me. Well, how does that relate to sovereignty?
13:35: Turn with me to Peter 1st Peter chapter 1 1st
13:46: Peter chapter 1 So here Paul says look I wasn't the one crucified Christ the one who was crucified.
13:53: That's what the gospel is about Christ crucified as he says
14:02: Later in 1st Corinthians 1st Peter 1 if somebody can read Verse 18 through 20 verses 18 19 and 20 question
14:19: Who was foreknown? before the foundation of the world Christ what specifically about Christ based on those the context of those verses
14:31: Christ the Lamb Notice verse 19 the blood of Christ Like that of a lamb
14:41: So what was foreknown before the foundation of the world same? Word that Peter uses it in the introduction of this epistle
14:49: When he talks about us being chosen by the foreknowledge of God That's something that happened that was predetermined in the eternal counsel of God the
14:58: Trinity The lamb that would be sent. This was not an afterthought for God so Consistent with the rest of Scripture Paul is saying in 1st
15:07: Corinthians Look, I was sent to preach the gospel and the content of the gospel is
15:12: Christ died for sins according to the scriptures And that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures 1st
15:17: Corinthians 15 I'm not the one who was crucified Christ was crucified and that is something that was predetermined in the council of the
15:26: Trinity from eternity past that's God's sovereignty Predetermining the death of Christ his crucifixion and that's what ought to bring us unity
15:36: We're not divided because I'm not the one who was crucified Apollos was not none of these human leaders
15:42: But it was Jesus Christ Let's see how he continues this
15:50: Thread continuing in verse 18. I'll continue to read in verse 18 And I want you to pay attention there is there's a few things
15:59: I'm going to ask you to as we go through this little study Notice for some repeated phrases or words
16:05: So look for the word as I read through the next few verses the word folly notice that notice the term world
16:14: Okay, and notice God's choosing Okay, so folly
16:21: The term world and God choosing beginning in verse 18 for the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing
16:28: But to us who are being saved it is the power of God for it is written I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and the discernment of the discerning
16:37: I will thwart Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age has not
16:44: God made foolish the wisdom of the world? for since in the wisdom of God the world did not know
16:51: God through wisdom it Pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe for Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach
17:01: Christ crucified a Stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles But to those who are called both
17:08: Jews and Greeks Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God For the foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men
17:17: For consider your calling brothers not many of you were wise according to worldly standards not many were powerful
17:24: Not many were of noble birth, but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise
17:30: God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong God chose what is low and despised in the world even things that are not to bring to nothing things that are
17:40: So that no human being might boast in the presence of God Let's stop there
17:47: So why this whole discussion of folly why if you notice, you know verse 18 verse 21 verse 23
17:57: Why is Paul saying all this preaching of the gospel and preaching Christ crucified is is folly and foolishness
18:05: Okay Okay Okay, so it doesn't make any sense to that's why
18:21: I said it relates folly to the world standards, right? It doesn't make any sense that a person would be saved like that. That's why he quotes from Isaiah in verse 19
18:28: I God says will destroy the wisdom of the wise and the discernment of the discerning
18:33: I will thwart this seems father the term folly actually in Greek is where we get the
18:40: Moria is where we get the English term moronic It's moronic To the wisdom of the world the ways of the world.
18:47: This doesn't make sense as it were. Yes Right, so what they have learned
18:53: Jews in particular Joanne saying is you you have to do it's this issue of Self -righteousness we see it in the
18:58: Pharisees. So and that's true of our day and age today, right? well, I need to do something, you know, we put off to pull ourselves up from the bootstraps and Save ourselves in some sense.
19:09: So this is folly to the ways of the world and Notice in the second part of where I read from verse 26 on Paul's highlighting but God classic, right?
19:24: Verse 27 or verse 26 not many of you are wise according to the worldly standards
19:31: That's what he's comparing it to not many powerful. Not many were noble birth by God God chose what is foolish
19:40: God chose what is weak God chose what is low and despised in the world
19:45: Why now? when he discusses the foolishness of the gospel and The folly to worldly standards to what the world thinks is wisdom now
19:56: Paul brings in God's sovereignty and choosing But what's the ultimate purpose of that?
20:03: verse 29 Why does Paul highlight? God's sovereignty in choosing
20:14: Hmm So that God alone gets the glory so that verse 29 no human being might boast in The presence of God because when we're able if we were able to boast if we did it in and of ourselves there would be
20:34: Valid reasons to boast before God and then we would get the glory and not God How does this relate to unity?
20:43: It God saved chose to save some people later in life people
20:52: We celebrate a birthday We're physically born into this world no no earlier no later than what
20:58: God had Intended and in the same fashion the Holy Spirit Caused us to be born again
21:05: No earlier or later than what he intended So God chose us because we can't boast before him therefore.
21:15: We're all on level ground at the foot of the cross Knowing that salvation is
21:22: God choosing us There is unity because I can't say as Paul says here.
21:27: Well. I'm I'm I'm I'm smarter I'm we use that terminology a lot. You know and even in Christendom and in the church.
21:34: You know he's very sharp. He's very smart Well if we look further is that why
21:41: I'm safe because I was smarter to get the gospel over somebody else
21:46: Well if I were to read further in 1st Corinthians 2 if you look there with me Verse 11 for who knows a person's thoughts expect accept the spirit of that person which is in him
21:58: So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God now We have received not the
22:03: Spirit of the world But the Spirit who is from God that we might understand the things freely given to us by God and we impart these
22:12: And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom. There's human wisdom again But taught by the
22:17: Spirit interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual the natural person does not accept the things of the
22:23: Spirit of God For they are folly to him there it is moronic And he is not able to understand them because they are academically discerned not academically discerned
22:36: They're spiritually discerned So that's why Paul's argument in first in the first chapters
22:42: It doesn't matter if you're wise according to the world world standards if you're discerning according to the world's standards if you're strong according to the world's standards
22:49: God has chosen that which is not according to the world's standards to show that salvation is of him and Therefore unity is the same because we're all chosen by God not because one of us was smarter than the other to figure it out
23:04: Now if you jump to chapter 3 he readdresses this issue of division From chapter 1 and now he brings out sovereignty even more in clearer language even more so Of course initially he said that you can't be divisive.
23:20: I'm of a policy. I'm of Paul because Paul I wasn't the one crucified.
23:26: It was Jesus who was crucified and that was predetermined in God's sovereign plan from eternity past But notice here what he says look at look for the language of sovereignty here
23:36: But I brothers verse 1 of chapter 3 could not address you as spiritual people But as people of the flesh as infants in Christ I fed you with milk not solid food for you were not ready for it
23:49: And even now you're not yet ready for you're still of the flesh for that while there is jealousy and strife among you
23:55: Are you not of the flesh and having only in the heat and behaving only in a human way?
24:01: For one says I follow Paul and another I follow Apollos. Are you not being merely human?
24:08: What then is Apollos again He answers the argument with a question is
24:14: Christ divided when I crucified again question what then is Apollos? What is
24:20: Paul? Myself he's talking about himself, and he gives an answer servants through whom you believed and look at here the sovereignty language as the
24:30: Lord assigned to each And he builds on that sovereignty language verse 6
24:37: I planted a Paulist water But God gave the growth watch this verse 7 so neither he who plans nor he who waters is anything
24:45: Paul is saying We're we're not anything But only God who gives the growth
24:54: He who plans verse 8 and he who waters are one and each will receive his wages according to his labor
25:02: There's the language of sovereignty so he's saying you're divisive you're saying I follow this teacher.
25:08: I follow this leader. What is that? Who are we we're simply servants?
25:14: through whom you believed and As he says at the end of verse 5 as the Lord The Lord the head of the church the body as the
25:24: Lord assigned to each did he not assigned to each? Let's take a look for example at Galatians And have somebody read in chapter 2
25:33: Galatians chapter 2 verses 7 and 8
25:42: Galatians 2 7 and 8 somebody can read that and this is
25:49: Highly highlighting how the Lord sovereignly assigned to each person their ministry Galatians chapter 2 7 and 8 will go ahead.
25:58: Thank you Thank you Notice there in Galatians in verse 8 in particular
26:03: Paul is highlighting Twice he says for he God who worked through Peter and Ministry to the circumcised worked also through me so Paul is not saying that God doesn't use human vessels
26:17: Paul himself recalls on the road to Damascus that God told him you are my chosen instrument my chosen vessel
26:24: Paul is not negating that God uses human Vessels he says they're clearly in Galatians 2 for he worked
26:31: Through Peter and through me and here in our text in 1st Corinthians 5 we are servants through whom you believed after all how blessed are the feet of him who brings good news
26:42: God uses broken vessels like us as the
26:47: Lord assigned to each Why so as Brian said earlier, so he gets the glory because only
26:53: God gives the growth Paul is saying we are nothing I mean to answer the question even more dramatically
26:59: What then is Paul turn with me to Acts 14 and have somebody read there? Paul is just as The words of John the
27:11: Baptist I must decrease and he must increase but look at Acts 14 with me beginning in verse 8
27:22: I'll read Not a now at Lystra. There was a man sitting who could not use his feet
27:28: He was crippled from birth and Had never walked he listened to Paul speaking and Paul looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well said in a loud voice
27:38: Stand upright on your feet and he sprang up and began walking and when the crowd saw what
27:43: Paul had done They lifted up their voices saying in Lyconian the gods have come down to us in the likeness of men
27:50: Barnabas they called Zeus and Paul Hermes because he was the chief speaker and the priest of Zeus whose temple was at the entrance to the city
27:58: Brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds Now notice the
28:04: Apostles reaction in response verse 14 But when the Apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd crying men
28:14: Why are you doing these things? We also are men of like nature
28:20: With you Stop there First Corinthians, what is
28:27: Apollo's? What is Cephas? What is what am I Paul? Just another mere man.
28:34: Yes God's chosen instrument and vessel but God is the one who causes the growth because it is
28:39: God who is assigned to each one his Ministry, so how do you when it comes to divisiveness in the church when it relates to our view our attitude our perspective towards leadership?
28:50: Is to know that the Lord is the one who is assigned to each one How about?
28:57: How does it relate? to the other members in the body
29:05: Go to chapter 12 with me or 1st Corinthians How does sovereignty relate to the other members of the body and as I read this portion?
29:18: I want you to look for two things and I'll ask you where you find it Look for the language of sovereignty in these verses and see where you can find it.
29:29: What verses And here the context of course is Paul is addressing spiritual gifts
29:36: And we know that because it's almost like a bookend and includes the old chapter 12 verse 1
29:41: He says not concerning spiritual gifts and he finishes the chapter about talking about gifts
29:50: But I'm going to read from verse 11 on till about 27 and see if you can see where Paul highlights the language of God's Sovereignty and how he has placed the members within the body.
30:04: That's the metaphor is using as we know in this chapter the body Verse 11 all these are empowered by one and the same
30:12: Spirit who apportions to each one individually as he wills For just as the body is one and has many members and all the members of the body
30:21: Though many are one body. So it is with Christ for in one spirit
30:26: We were all baptized into one body Jews or Greeks slaves are free and all were made to drink of one spirit
30:33: For the body does not consist of one member But of many if the foot should say because I'm not a hand
30:40: I do not belong to the body that would not make it any less a part of the body And if the ear should say because I'm not an eye
30:47: I do not belong to the body that would not make it any less a part of the body if the whole body were an eye
30:53: Where would the sense of hearing where would be the sense of hearing if the whole body were an ear? Where would be the sense of smell?
31:00: But as it is God arranged the members in the body each one of them as he chose
31:06: If all were a single member, where would the body be as it is? There are many parts yet one body the eye cannot say to the hand
31:14: I have no need of you nor again the head to the feet I have no need of you on the contrary the parts of the body that seem to be weaker
31:22: Indispensable and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable. We bestow the greater honor in our
31:28: Unrepresentable parts are treated with greater modesty Which are more presentable parts do not require
31:34: But God has so composed the body giving greater honor to the part that lacked it that there be no division in the body
31:41: But that the members may have the same care for one another If one member suffers all suffer together if one member is honored all rejoice together now you're the body of Christ and individually members of it and also read verse 28 and God has appointed in the church first apostles second prophets third teachers then miracles then gifts of healing helping administrating and various kinds of tongues
32:12: So the metaphor he uses here in the context It's the context of spiritual gifts, but the principle of this metaphor applies in all circumstances of the body
32:22: Where did you see as in Paul's? Writing here him talking about using language that relates to the sovereignty of God Brian Okay, oh
32:40: Verse 18 God arranged. Okay. Everyone catch that. What was the second one Brian? God has so composed the body good.
32:49: Let me give some others a chance. Very good. Thank you mark Verse 11 the spirit of portions.
32:57: Yes, excellent. Any others? How about the last verse 28 that I read and God has appointed?
33:08: Interestingly that the term they use different terms in the ESV here, but the term that is used in 28 appointed and The term used composed which
33:18: Brian mentioned in verse 24, it's the same term in the Greek it literally means to To put something in its place
33:28: Where it belongs where it's been determined to function in the body using the same metaphor
33:36: God knew to put our hand over here that extremity our leg is here The leg is not an arm in the same mannerism
33:42: That's why that term is used composed and arranged literally to sit in place to put into place where it belongs
33:48: That's how he's done with the members of the body of Christ He doesn't make a hand out of an ear and so on and so forth, but notice also verse 11 that mark mentioned he apportions and he emphasized it at after again just in case we miss it as He wills right the verse that Brian mentioned verse 18, but as it is
34:11: God arranged the members in the body each one of them as He chose now question verse 24
34:23: Where it says God has so composed the body He gives us to purpose him is why
34:30: God has composed it said everything in everyone in their place Where they ought to be at functioning in the body.
34:37: He gives us a to two purposes in verse listed in verse 25 one's a negative purpose one's a positive.
34:43: What's the negative purpose clause there? Why has God so arranged the body for what purpose negatively speaking in that verse?
34:53: So that there's no division there's a connection between God's sovereignty and Church unity
35:00: God has so arranged the members using the metaphor of a body so that there's no division
35:06: But rather what's the second purpose in that verse from a positive note?
35:13: Why has God so arranged the body so that what So that we can have the same care for each other
35:22: The same care for one another it's funny because when you look at many times when you do a study and you hear about it often
35:28: I think you know if you've studied all the one another's in the Bible, you know, love one another
35:33: Forgive one another bear one another's burdens Here's one that sometimes is missing courage one another but that we should have the same care for one another
35:43: What are some practical let's think out loud as we are closing here What are some practical ways knowing that God has been the one who's sovereignly composed the body knowing that God is the one?
35:54: Who's arranged the body knowing that God is the one who's appointed in the body as he wills as he as he chose
35:59: What are some? practical ways That we can demonstrate care for one another
36:06: Excellent. Everybody catch that some people in the body can compensate for others who might be weak in other areas
36:14: And we come alongside and help them. Thank you Scott. Excellent verse 26, right? Goes along with what elder
36:21: Scott said compensating for those who if one suffers It's a body right
36:28: You ever The classic illustration you hit your your finger you're with a hammer and it's not just this that aches
36:37: You feel it reverberating throughout your whole body if one member suffers
36:43: That member suffers alone No, I'll suffer together But on the same token if one member is honored
36:52: There's not competition here same way in terms of leadership. I'm of Apollos.
36:58: I'm of Cephas. No, no No, God has assigned each one his ministry in the same way with the members of the body
37:04: There's no shouldn't be jealousy if something happens and somebody's honored we rejoice with that person
37:11: Because they're part of the same local body So to help us out understanding unity is to see that not only has
37:18: God Appointed arranged composed and assigned the language that he used in chapter 3
37:24: The ministry to each of the leaders in the body But he's also so composed the body each of the members so that we can have the same care for one another
37:33: Let me close turn with me at Ephesians another classic passage I wanted to highlight
37:39: Corinthians because that is was a very divisive body local body Ephesians chapter 4 is a classic passage on ecclesiology
37:52: So the thinking in Paul's mind as he writes to the Corinthians is there's division among you not only from the perspective of the leadership what your view of leadership is but also your view towards the other members of the body is
38:04: And that is because you don't see it through the eyes of God's sovereign Sovereignty how he has arranged everything how he has appointed everything as he how he has composed the body how?
38:16: Before the cross as he said in chapter 1 God is the one who's chosen us so that none of us can boast
38:22: I can't say I'm better than you because I figured out the I figured out the gospel Before you did know because those things are spiritually discerned not academically discerned
38:32: So here Paul highlights it again, and I'll close with this notice he talks about unity here in Ephesians 4 and we'll see if You can see sovereignty here.
38:46: Let me begin in verse 11 And he gave the
38:51: Apostles the prophets and evangelists the shepherds and teachers to equip the Saints for the work of ministry
38:57: For building up the body of Christ Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the
39:03: Son of God To mature manhood to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ So that we may no longer be children tossed to and fro by the waves and cared about by every wind of doctrine
39:15: By human cunning by craftiness and deceitful schemes rather speaking the truth in love
39:21: We were to grow up in every way unto him who is the head into Christ from whom the whole body joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped
39:31: When each part is working properly makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love
39:40: Sovereignty is not per se as a word mentioned there But where might you see here Paul's teaching to the
39:46: Ephesian church on The church on the ecclesiology where might we see
39:52: God's sovereignty in this whole process from this text Let me ask this question
40:05: Who gave the Apostles the prophets and the evangelists and pastor teachers Who's that specifically
40:15: Which member of the Godhead Christ the he in verse 11 going back to our
40:21: Little context I didn't read it referring to Christ and who is Christ? He says in the body of this passage verse 17 the head and he uses the same metaphor body
40:35: So Christ the head is the one that's the same language here gave that Paul uses in 1st
40:40: Corinthians 3 when he said Who is Apollos who is Paul Servants through whom you believe as the
40:46: Lord has assigned to each that term assigned in 1st Corinthians 3 is the same Greek term
40:51: That he uses here as gave so the head of the church is the one who gave these people
40:57: But the ministry is not Just that he gave them for what purpose verse 12
41:05: To equip whom the Saints For the work of ministry and notice how he finishes this portion of Scripture when is
41:15: Let's use this illustration. When is the church operating at its most maximum?
41:22: When verse 16 when each part the second half of the verse when each part is working properly
41:30: It's like a it's like a machine Maybe that's a bet that's not the illustration or metaphor that Paul uses use the the metaphor of a body but for a certain machine to work efficiently and properly is when every part of the machine is working properly in the same way the body functions properly when
41:45: Christ the head Gives leaders to the church human leaders and then each part we equip the
41:51: Saints and each part is working properly so the base is my contention is
41:58: That the basis for church unity ought to be knowing that God is sovereign That God has chosen has saved each one of us not because of our smarts but because he chose us so that there is no boasting before God that God has chosen the leaders because he's assigned to each one their ministry that God has
42:18: Composed the body as he wills as he chosen He's given spiritual gifts to each one as he sees fit
42:25: So that there's no division in the body and so that we can have the same care for one another
42:31: All right, let me close in prayer father, thank you for the truth of your scripture for your word and thank you father that We don't want to seek to dichotomize and compartmentalize in our thinking but also as we flesh that out in our lives that Theology is only meant for our study of you and it doesn't necessarily relate sometimes to different aspects of the church, but even specifically
42:58: Unity, but we know that our unity is based upon your sovereignty your sovereignty in choosing each of us
43:06: Because we would never have chosen you your sovereignty in the signing to each leader their task and your sovereignty and so arranging
43:12: Composing the body of Christ so that there would be no division But that we would have the same care and concern for one another we pray to that end in Jesus name.