Abandoned Devotion Event: April 13, 2012

Matt. 7:21-23; Luke 6:46; 13:22-30

  • Calling Jesus “Lord” is NOT enough (Matt. 7:21-22; Luke 6:46; 13:25)
  • Doing powerful “religious” works is NOT enough (Matt. 7:22)
  • Being around Jesus’ presence is NOT enough (Luke 13:26)
  • Being around Jesus’ teaching is NOT enough (Luke 13:26)
  • Essential conditions:
    1. Obeying God (Matt. 7:21; Luke 6:46)
    2. Having origin recognized by Jesus (Luke 13:25,27 cf. John 3:3-13) 

Matt. 13:24-30,36-43

  • Externally looking like you have God’s life is NOT enough (Matt. 13:29)
    • Fausset’s Bible Dictionary comments on the type of weeds mentioned in this parable: “…at first impossible to distinguish from wheat or barley, until the wheat’s ear is developed, when the thin fruitless ear of the darnel [weeds/tares] is detected. Its root too so intertwines with that of the wheat that the farmer cannot separate them, without plucking up both, ‘till the time of harvest.’”
  • Essential condition:
    1. Receiving the new life of Christ’s seed (Matt. 13:24,37)

Matthew 25:1-13

  • Calling Jesus “Lord” is NOT enough (Matt. 25:11)
  • Being a virgin (i.e. outwardly “pure”) is NOT enough (Matt. 25:11-12)
  • Essential conditions:
    1. Having lamps lit with oil (Matt. 25:4)
    2. Actual relationship with Jesus, the Bridegroom (Matt. 25:12)

Matthew 25:31-46

  • Having similar characteristics to God’s people (as goats have to sheep) are NOT enough (Matt. 25:32-33)
  • Essential condition:
    1. Having true love of Jesus’ family/church (Matt. 25:40)

2 Timothy 2:19-21 (see also Galatians 5:24)

  • Seeming to be part of God’s house and near true Christians is NOT enough (2 Tim. 2:20)
    • Gold and silver are considered precious metals
    • Wood and clay are base metals, made of what is produced in the earth
  • Essential conditions:
    1. Being known by God and belonging to Him (2 Tim. 2:19; Gal. 5:24)
    2. Departed from iniquity; “honorable vessel” (2 Tim. 2:19,21; Gal. 5:24)

Other Characteristics of Church:

  • John 3:3-8 – being “born again” of the Spirit = having the Spirit give you a new life
  • Ephesians 2:19-22 – God’s Temple = God (in the Person of the Spirit) lives within you
  • Ephesians 5:23 – the Body of Christ = the substance of Christ (i.e. the Holy Spirit) reproduces Christ in the corporate church
  • Revelation 1:20 – Lampstand; the place where God’s oil produces light (see Leviticus 24:2) = the Holy Spirit (symbolized by oil) produces a testimony of light in the midst of darkness 
  • Romans 11:13-24 – Olive Tree = retains the oil (a symbol of the Holy Spirit)
  • John 1:12-13 – Children of God = receive God’s Life through His Spirit (just as children receive the life of their parents) and are adopted by the blood of Christ

Taking all of these statements together, we can summarize that God’s church is defined by: 

  • having God’s righteous life (which only comes by Spirit)
  • being born again (by Spirit)
  • having the life of God in you (i.e. the Holy Spirit)
  • having origin recognized by Jesus (presumably being born again with heavenly origin, which comes when Spirit enters you)
  • having lamps with oil (a symbol of a testimony produced by the Spirit)
  • having relationship with Jesus (which can speak also of God’s Spirit in us, compare Gen. 4:1 and 1 Cor. 6:16-17)
  • having love of the brethren (which is a fruit of the Spirit, see Gal. 5:22)
  • having God’s seal (which is His Spirit, see 2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5)

Summarizing further:

  • The church is made up of only those with God’s life (i.e. the Holy Spirit) dwelling in them.  The Spirit is the mark of their inheritance, and the evidence they truly know the Jesus of the Bible.

How, then, does someone become part of God’s church?

  • Ephesians 1:13-14 (cf. 2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5)  – biblical trust in the gospel
    • Repent and believe – Mark 1:15; Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38; 20:21; Hebrews 6:1
    • The Gospel – 1 Cor. 15:1-11
      • Jesus is fully God (the 2nd Member of the Trinity) and Man (cf. John 8:24) who died for all sins, was buried, and rose from the dead as the Scriptures teach.
    • In the heart – Romans 10:9-10
    • No additions or changes to this gospel – Galatians 1:8
      • Compare Gal. 5:2-6, note also Gal. 3:21 – not only the works of the Jewish law, but trusting in any work besides Christ’s perfect work is condemned

Application:

  • Protestant, Catholic, Mormons, Jehovah’s witness, Seventh Day Adventists – may have members of the true church within these organizations, because the individuals match criteria above, but these organizations are not the church (and I believe that only orthodox Protestant doctrine is in line with this gospel message).  God’s church is made exclusively of those who trust in Christ’s Person and Work, as defined by the Scriptures, in their heart (see above).  If you fellowship with an organization of people who do not teach or believe this, leave without hesitation (2 Cor. 6:16-17). 
  • If you are unsure whether you are part of God’s church, you can be sure (see 1 John 5:13), but the issue begins with humility.  Proud people will not inherit God’s kingdom (Matthew 18:1-4).  You must recognize that you have followed your own way and are ready to surrender to God’s way and put trust in His finished work (see John 19:30), renouncing trust in any other work.  It is time.