Feb 23
26
Morning Sermon
The Church As Temple: Its Growth
John 17
Pastor Joe Anady
February 26, 2023
Old Testament Reading: 2 Samuel 7:12–13
These are the words that the LORD spoke to King David through the mouth of the prophet Nathan, promising to establish his kingdom and the LORD’s temple forever through his offspring. This promise would be fulfilled initially through Solomon and ultimately through Jesus the Messiah, the son of Abraham, the Son of David, and the Son of God. Hear now the LORD’s word to David. “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” (2 Samuel 7:12–13, ESV)
New Testament Reading: John 17
“When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.’” (John 17, ESV)
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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.
Introduction
I believe this will be the last sermon in this little series on the church considered in the terms of God’s temple. As you know, this series grew out of our study of the book of Exodus. In that study, we learned all about the tabernacle that God commanded Israel to make, and we also traced the theme of “tabernacle” or “temple” from Genesis 1 through to the end of the book of Revelation. In brief, we discovered that the story of creation, fall, redemption in Christ Jesus, and consummation can be told in terms of the establishment of God’s eternal and cosmic temple wherein God manifests his glory before his people, and his people worship, serve, and enjoy him forever and ever.
The heavens and the earth were designed to be God’s eternal temple. The (garden) temple was lost at the fall when the first man and women were ejected from it. And so too was the hope of entering into God’s eternal temple by way of obedience to the covenant of works (or life) that God made with Adam in the garden before sin entered the world. That way to eternal life was closed off, for Adam had broken the covenant.
But God in his mercy promised to provide salvation and redemption through the offspring of Eve. The first utterance of this promise was contained within the curse that was pronounced by the LORD upon the serpent as recorded in Genesis 3:15: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15, ESV). So then, the people of God from that day forward put their faith in this promise and in the One who, in the fulness of time, would be born of the woman. Indeed, many would descend from Eve, for she is the mother of all living. But this promise was about the One who would crush the head of the serpent, that is to say, of the Devil himself who tempted Eve, and, through her, Adam so as to become a kind of illegitimate king in this world for a time. By God’s grace, he promised that One would come from Eve who would strike the Evil One with a fatal blow to the head, and this he would do through suffering. In the process of crushing the serpent’s head, the serpent would bruise his heel.
As you know, this first promise of the gospel was like a seed that would grow and grow. The details of God’s plan of redemption grew more and more clear through subsequent revelation. More was revealed to Abraham. And much more was revealed to Isarel through Moses. And of course, this all culminated in the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. He was born of a virgin, that is to say, of the seed of Eve. He was and is God incarnate. He is the redeemer who has bruised the serpent’s head through his suffering. He is the fulfillment of all the promises, prophesies, types, and shadows of Old.
And what did Jesus Christ, the scull-crushing seed of the woman, earn when he accomplished our redemption?
One, he redeemed a people for himself. These are the ones that Jesus prayed for in the John 17 passage we read a moment ago, saying, “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world…” (John 17:6, ESV), and “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.” (John 17:9, ESV), and “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word…” (John 17:20, ESV), and “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24, ESV). You see, when Jesus the Messiah lived, suffered, died, and rose again, he bruised the serpent’s head. And having bruised the serpent’s head, he redeemed a people for himself – people from every tongue, tribe, and nation. These are the ones given to him by the Father in eternity. These are the elect of God. When Christ lived, suffered, died, and rose again, he defeated the Evil One, and he set captives free. He earned the salvation of all who were given to him by the Father in eternity. He shed his blood for “many for the forgiveness of sins” (see Matthew 26:28). He accomplished redemption for his people. As Paul says, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13, ESV). He accomplished this salvation by crushing the head of the serpent to overthrow his illegitimate kingdom, to undo his work, to enter into glory, and to bring many sons and daughters to glory with him. And this salvation that Christ has earned is applied to the elect of God at just the right time through the preaching of the gospel as the Spirit works to make fallen sinners willing and able to repent and believe upon Christ.
But there is something else that Christ earned through his obedience and suffering. He did not only redeem a people for himself – those given to him by the Father in eternity – he earned an eternal kingdom when he crushed the head of the serpent. The Evil One had become the prince of this world when he rebelled against his Maker and seduced the man and the women to transfer their allegiance to him by listening to his voice by eating the forbidden fruit. But when Christ obeyed the Father, suffered and died in the place of those given to him by the Father, and rose again on the third day, he earned a kingdom. He ascended to the Father and sat down on his throne. All authority in heaven and on earth was given to him (Matthew 28:18). Through his obedience and suffering, “God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9–11, ESV). Through his obedience and suffering, Christ became Lord of heaven and earth. Christ is King. He is the son of David whose kingdom will have no end. His kingdom is here now (we are not waiting for a future millennium). It will be brought to consummation when Christ returns to make all things new (As Peter says, “…according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13, ESV)).
This is the story of our redemption in Christ Jesus, brothers and sisters. It is about the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom through Christ! Christ is the Son of David whose kingdom is here now and will have no end! And where is this inaugurated kingdom manifest? It is made visible in the church, that is, in the assembling together of those who confess, “Jesus is Lord!” Christ’s people are not of this world, as John 17:16 says, and yet Christ has not called his people out of this world in this present age. Hear the prayer of Jesus in John 17:15-19 again: “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth” (John 17:15–19, ESV).
The kingdom of Christ will be brought to consummation or completion when Christ returns. On that day, those not united to him by faith will be judged and cast out. On that day, those united to him by faith will enter the new heaven and earth in body and soul. No unclean thing will enter that realm, but only those written in the Lambs Book of life. All will be God’s kingdom, and God’s kingdom will be completed and kept secure. All of God’s enemies will be judged and banished, never to threaten again. But until then, the kingdom of Christ – which is not of this world, but is of heaven and the world to come – is manifest in this world, which is still in darkness, plagued by the effects of sin, and is under the power of the Evil One.
Indeed, Satan’s head has been bruised. He has been defeated. He has been bound so as to deceive the nations no longer (see Matthew 28:18-20 and Revelation 20). He has been bound so that Christ might progressively plunder his house (see Matthew 12:28-29). He has been banished from the throne of God so that he cannot accuse the brethren any longer, as he did before the resurrection of Christ and in the days of Job (see Luke 10:18 and Revelation 12:10). The victory has been won, brothers and sisters. Christ has dealt the fatal blow to the head of the rebel king. Christ sits on his throne. He rules and reigns now, but his kingdom is not yet consummated. He must (the reign of Christ is here now, brother and sisters. It is not off in the future. And he must rule until his enemies are made his footstool, that is to say, totally and finally defeated and judged (see Psalm 110, Luke 20:41-44, Acts 2:35, and Hebrews 1:13). This will happen on the last day when Christ returns (see Matthew 25:31ff and Revelation 20:7ff).
So why have I presented you with this overview of the history of redemption in the terms of the kingdom of God being offered to Adam in the garden, but forfeited, promised to Adam and Abraham after the fall, prefigured in Israel under the Old Mosaic Covenant, inaugurated at Christ’s first coming, and consummated at Christ second coming? Why have I presented this sweeping overview to you in the terms of “kingdom” when this is supposed to be a sermon on the church as “temple”? Well, the kingdom language is more familiar. But everything that has been regarding the kingdom of God may also be said regarding the temple of God. It is not only God’s kingdom that was offered, promised, prefigured, inaugurated, and will be consummated, but God’s cosmic and eternal temple too. God’s eternal temple, that is to say, the new creation temple of God in which righteousness dwells, was inaugurated or begun at Christ’s first coming. In Christ Jesus, you are a new creation (see 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 6:15). And in Christ you are God’s temple because the Holy Spirit dwells in you (see 1 Corinthians 3:16 and 6:19).
God’s kingdom is here now, and if you are united to Christ by faith you are citizens of that kingdom (see Mark 3:2, Matthew 28:18, Luke 19:12, John 18:36, 1 Peter 3:22, Hebrews 12:28, etc, etc, etc). Similarly, God’s temple is here now, and if you are united to Christ by faith you are stones in that temple and members of the household of God (see 1 Peter 2:5ff and Ephesians 2:19ff). All of this is in fulfillment of the promises of God made to King David in these words, “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house [temple] for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” This promise has immediate fulfillment in Solomon, the son of David. This promise has ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ and in his eternal kingdom and temple. You, brothers and sisters, are a part of the inauguration of that kingdom and temple.
If we wish to understand the church, then we cannot overlook this teaching, for in this the true nature of the church is revealed. And this is why I have taken the time to consider the church as God’s temple with you. We have considered the church in the terms of “temple”. And specifically, we have considered its foundation, its stones, its purpose, its character, its gifts and graces, its fruit, and today, in the time we have remaining, we will consider its growth.
When all is said, I want you to see that the church is not of this world. It is brought into existence by the Father, through the Son, and by the Spirit. It is heavenly and spiritual. It is an intrusion or foretaste of the world to come. It is the visible manifestation of the inaugurated new creation kingdom or temple of the living God. It is God who must build his church, therefore. And he builds his church through Christ the Word and by his Spirit. Stated negatively, the church – Christ’s true church – cannot be built by man, for the church is spiritual and heavenly. The kingdom of God cannot be furthered by governments who threaten with the sword, for it is not of this world. And neither can it be built by the craftiness and schemes of man. Again I say, the church is spiritual and heavenly. God alone can build his church. Yes, he uses us in the process, but only as servants. The church is built up by God, through His Word, and by the working of his Spirit according to the means he has established.
Here is my concern, dear brothers and sisters. Men (and women) may try to build God’s church using human wisdom and human strength. And indeed, they might even appear to the natural eye to succeed for a time. But if Christ’s church is to grow really and truly, it can only grow as God the Father works through the Word, by the Spirit, and according to the means that God has ordained. If we wish to be used by God in the building up of his church, therefore, then we had better depend upon him and employ the methods he has revealed in his word, and not our own. To ignore God’s word, and to seek to build God’s church according to our own wisdom and methods will be a waste. It may be that we build something, but it will most likely not be Christ’s true church. It will not stand the test of time. It certainly will not stand the test of judgment day.
This is what Paul warns against in 1 Corinthians 3:11-17. He speaks of the building up of Christ’s temple-church when he says, “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” It is after this that Paul says, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple” (1 Corinthians 3:11–17, ESV). Finally, he warns, “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God” (1 Corinthians 3:18–19, ESV).
This warning against being wise according to the wisdom of this age is delivered in the context of talk concerning the building up God’s temple-church on the foundation of Christ. It is a warning to build, not with earthly material and not according to the wisdom of this age, but according to the wisdom of God. Paul says, become a fool so that you may become wise.
I think the modern church, and especially leaders in the modern church, need to heed this warning. Many, I am afraid, are attempting to build Christ’s church according to the wisdom of this world. They seem to be prosperous on the surface. But the question is, will their work stand on judgment day? Will what they have built pass through the fires of judgment unscathed, or will they suffer loss, even if they themselves are saved? It is a sober warning to all Christians, and especially to ministers of the gospel.
So how then are we to build Christ’s church? How are we to seek its growth, both numerical growth and growth in maturity? Answer: not according to the wisdom of this world, but through the faithful ministry of the Word and administration of the sacraments, in prayerful reliance upon the Holy Spirit.
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If The Church Is To Grow, The Word Must Be Preached
First, if the church is to grow the word of God must be proclaimed, taught, and obeyed.
As you know, sinners come to faith in Christ through the preaching of the gospel as the Spirit works.
This is why Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” (Romans 1:16–17, ESV)
And in another place he says, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved… How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?’ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:9–17, ESV)
When Christ commanded his first disciples to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18), this is what they did – they went out and preached a message of good news. They announced that the promised Messiah had come. They urged sinners to turn from their sins and to trust in him. Read the book of Acts to see that this is so. The gospel message was proclaimed “as many as were appointed to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48, ESV). This is how disciples are made. This is how citizens are added to Christ’s kingdom. This is how stones are added to God’s eternal temple – through the proclamation of the gospel.
Notice that Jesus prayed for this process in his high priestly prayer as recorded in John 17. He did only pray for the ones whom the Father had given to him who were alive on earth at that moment, but “but also for those who [would] believe in [him] through their word…” (John 17:20, ESV), that is to say, through their faith evangelistic ministry.
Brothers and sisters, we must labor to expand Christ’s kingdom and to grow God’s temple-church. The scriptures command it. I do not think we can call ourselves a healthy church without evangelistic zeal and activity. We must labor to expand Christ’s kingdom and to grow God’s temple-church, for Christ commanded his church to “go and make disciples of all nations…” And we know that disciples are made, not by the threat of the sword, not through political activity, and not by attempting to attract sinners into the church in worldly ways, but by proclaiming the message of salvation through faith in Jesus the Messiah, and urging other to repent and believe.
Now I ask, how do those who believe in Christ then grow in Christ? Those who believe grow in maturity through the preaching and teaching of the word of God and by the working of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps you are beginning to see that our salvation in Christ and our sanctification in him are the work of the triune God. God the Father saves and sanctifies by the Word and through the Spirit.
When Christ prayed for those given to him by the Father he said, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17, ESV). Before that he said, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15, ESV). So then, how are God’s people kept from the evil one? How are the sanctified, or set apart from the world and made more holy? They are sanctified by the truth. God’s word is truth.
I could pile up a lot of scripture texts to demonstrate that the church grows in maturity through the preaching and teaching of the word of God. We know that the first disciples “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42, ESV). In Acts, we see that Paul and other missionaries would spend long periods of time in a given region preaching and teaching the scriptures to see to it that the church that was born there was well established. Pastors are commanded in the scripture to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2, ESV). Paul urged the Colossians to “Let the word of Christ dwell in [them] richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in [their] hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16, ESV).
I need not go on. I think it is clear to all of you that growth in maturity comes about in the life of the believer and in the church through the teaching of the word of God as the Spirit works. We overcome conformity to this world and are transformed into the likeness of Christ “by the renewal of [our] mind[s]…” (Romans 12:2, ESV). And this is why Christ said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19–20, ESV). Those who are made to be disciples through the preaching of the gospel are then to be taught to then faithfully observe all that Christ has commanded.
Brothers and sisters, do not disregard the preaching and teaching of the word of God. Prepare your hearts and minds to receive it. Give your undivided attention to it. And then “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22, ESV).
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If The Church Is To Grow, The Sacraments Must Be Faithfully Administered
The second point of the sermon today is that if the church is to grow, the sacraments must be faithfully administered. A sacrament is a symbol. They are signs or visible words. The gospel is preached primarily with words. But in the sacraments, the gospel is preached in a visible and tangible way. Under the New Covenant, there are two sacraments given to the church – baptism and the Lord’s Supper. And it is the word of God that establishes their meaning and proper administration.
Both sacraments are mentioned in the great commission passage that I have been referring to throughout this sermon – one explicitly, the other implicitly. When Christ gave the church her mission he said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”. And it is these – those who are made to be disciples, learners, or followers of Jesus – who are to be baptized (that is to say, immersed in water) in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” In water baptism, the name of God is placed on the one baptized. Water baptism symbolizes cleansing in Christ and union with him in his death and resurrection. Baptism is for those who believe – disciples, or followers of Christ. It is not for the world. It is not for the infants or children of believers. It is for disciples only. This can be demonstrated from many passages in the New Testament (and Old), but it is clear enough in the great commission. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” (emphasis added).
And then we find these words, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18–20, ESV). One of the things that Christ commanded his disciples to observe is the Lord’s Supper. In Matthew 26:26 we read, “Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:26–29, ESV). The Lord’s Supper is to be observed as the second sacrament of the church until we enjoy communion with Christ in his Father’s consummate kingdom. Or to use the language of the great commission, the Lord’s Supper is to be observed by Christ’s disciples as a visible reminder to the fact that he with us to the “end of the age”.
If the church is to grow, the sacraments must be faithfully administered.
Baptism must be applied to those who make a credible profession of faith. It is not to be given to those who make a questionable, uniformed, and flippant profession. It is not to be applied to the children of believers, for they are born in Adam and not in Christ, under the broken Covenant of Works, and not the Covenant of Grace. Under the New Covenant physical descent counts for nothing. It is the new birth that matters, and that by the grace of God, is faith-producing.
And the Lord’s Supper is only for those who believe and have been baptized. Covenantally speaking, baptism is the wedding ceremony that marks union with Christ, and the Lord’s Supper is the anniversary celebration. We celebrated the anniversary of our union with the crucified and risen Lord, not yearly, but every Lord’s Day, for it was on this day that he was raised.
Baptism marks union with Christ and entrance into the covenant community. The Lord’s Supper signifies abiding in Christ and continuance in the covenant community. Those who are tempted to grow the church according to human wisdom will say that we are to open wide the front door of the church. In other words, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper ought to be applied and administered liberally. Those who wish to grow the church carefully and according to the wisdom of God will administer the sacraments carefully and faithfully. In fact, a true church will even excommunicate the one who shows by their false doctrine or sinful way of life that their profession of faith was not true. This is what Paul means when he says, “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. ‘Purge the evil person from among you’” (1 Corinthians 5:11–13, ESV). Those who have bought into worldly church growth models we say, this here is not good for church growth. But those who wish to see Christ’s church grow really and truly will simply obey God’s word. They will administer the sacraments faithfully. “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God” (1 Corinthians 3:18–19, ESV).
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If The Church Is To Grow, The People Of God Must Prayerfully Rely On The Holy Spirit
Thirdly, lastly, and very briefly, if the church is to grow, the people of God must prayerfully rely on the Holy Spirit.
Only the Father can build his church through Christ and the Spirit, and this is according to his decreed will. We cannot make it happen, brothers and sisters. We cannot cause others to repent and believe. Only God can do that. But we can be faithful to do what God has called us to.
We must be faithful to preach the gospel, for this is the means that God has determined to use to bring his elect to repentance and faith. We must be faithful to “in [our] hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks [us] for a reason for the hope that is in [us]; yet do it with gentleness and respect…” (1 Peter 3:15, ESV). And we must be faithful to pray. “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people [that is to say, all of these kinds of people] to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time” (1 Timothy 2:1–6, ESV). Prayer, along with the proclamation of the gospel, is a means by which God has determined to work. By prayer, we show ourselves to be dependent upon God. Salvation is of the Lord. If we are to see the church grow in number, purity, and maturity, then we must preach and teach the word of God and we must prayerfully rely on the Holy Spirit’s work.
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Conclusion
Brothers and sisters, we must desire to see and labor for the growth of Christ’s temple-church.
The whole story of our redemption in Christ Jesus is a story of expansion and growth. From the first promise of the gospel in Genesis 3:15 to the consummation as symbolized in Revelation 21 and 22, the story of the eternal kingdom of God and the eternal temple of God is a story of expansion and growth. If we are not concerned to see God’s temple-church grow, and if we are not laboring for it, then we are out of sync with God’s purposes – we are even disobedient to the mission that Christ gave to us.
But please hear me – it cannot be growth at all costs or by any means. We must pursue growth in the way that Christ has commanded. Our task is not to be innovative or creative, but faithful. We must not attempt to appeal to sinful desires and darkened thinking of fallen men and women. No, we must preach the word and obey the word knowing that those whom God is calling to himself will love the word. And we must receive only those who make a credible profession of faith into the membership of the church, for it is those who have faith in Christ who are stones in his temple and members of his body. It is the disciples who are to be baptized, and it is those who are baptized who are to be given the Supper. Indeed, the church would appear to grow in size much more quickly if we were to open wide the door to baptism and the Table, but the growth would be in appearance only. Know this for certain, the fire of the judgment day will test each man’s work to show if it is true.
Brothers and sisters, let us be found faithful on the last day. Faithful to proclaim Christ crucified and risen. And faithful in prayer. May the Lord bless us to see a great expansion of his temple-church in out day.
