Study of
Study of
The Examples, Illustrations, And Metaphors
Representing
The New Testament Church
Introduction to Series
The Scriptures reveal to us that "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself" (2 Cor. 5:19). Surely therefore, there exists between God, Christ, and every baptized believer, a relationship that transcends in importance all other relationships known to man. No human relationship with any person, or group of persons, or any material or physical enterprise of any description, is nearly so important as that relationship that we have with God in Christ. It is in our connection with the Saviour that we can receive Salvation. It is in our union with the Author of Virtue that we can know Virtue. It is in our association with the King of Glory that we can experience Glory. It is in connection with the Mediator that we can have - even now - an Advocate, an Attorney, a Repre-sentative in the throneroom of God. It is in connection with the Life Itself that we can receive Eternal Life. It is in connection with the Judge of all the earth that we can expect to receive Mercy and Justice.
A Matter of Relationship - God in Christ and We in Christ
If you were God - now stop and think - you created man; you made him, you are responsible for him and you have your own good reasons for his being and his well-being, how would you portray in your holy Word the relationship you have with your creation. Would you think of yourself as a hobbyist playing with a hobby? An engineer with a project? A scientist with an experiment? An industrialist with factory and workers? A coach with players? How would you attempt to show mankind what relationship he might enjoy as the creation of a good and holy God.
We need to remember that God is a spirit. (John 4.) A spirit hath not flesh and bones. (Lu. 24:39.) But man is both flesh and bones as well as spirit; in fact, body, soul (animal life) and spirit. (1 Thess. 5:23.) How then would you illustrate your relationship with man under these conditions, the Almighty Holy Spirit God - to your creature man - who is fleshly body, physical soul and spirit.
We need to remember also that we were made after His image, after His likeness; not He after ours. He does not have a fleshly body like ours. He does not think like us. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Is.55:9). One of the biggest problems that mankind has is this: making God and God's purposes accommodate man and man's purposes; making the spirit of God accommodate the nature of man instead of striving to achieve His nature, glory and virtue. While it is true that religion was made for man, and not man for religion, it is not true that God was made by or for man. Sometimes we seem to forget that "It is He that hath made us and not we ourselves" (Ps. 100:3).
What Language?
What language would you use? We need to be familiar with a word, anthropomorphism (Gr. anthrophas, a man, and morphe, form). Anthropomorphism then is a figure of speech, "the representation or conception of the Deity under a human form, or with human attributes and affections" (Webster). In other words it means expressing spiritual matters in earthly terms. For instance, John describes the vision of the heavenly city as having streets of "gold," gates of "pearl," and walls of "jasper." (Rev. 21.) Now are these elements actually in heaven? or, was John just really expressing beautiful aspects of the holy city in the most meaningful language available to man, gold, pearl, and jasper?
Now considering all this, how would You reveal yourself to mankind. How would you show the unique relationship that your people have with You; YOU in Christ and your people in Christ also? How would you as God choose to do it?
It is apparent that for many, many people the idea of an institutional religious structure is about all the concept of relationship with God that is known. God is in heaven, Christ is at his right hand. On earth there is the universal institution made up of local institutions, with each one run by Scripturally qualified and Holy Spirit approved officers, and into which one can come through faith and baptism and be saved. As long as one is faithful to the institution he can continue to be saved. The Roman Catholic teaching is this exactly: as long as one is faithful to the one, holy, Catholic Church, and is never "excommunicated" from it, he is saved eternally. This is precisely why so many Catholics refuse Bible study and repeatedly one hears, "I belong to Saint (whatever) Church." Their religious security and confidence is placed in "belonging" to a Church.
I respectfully submit that this institutional concept is not taught in the New Testament. What did Christ build? He build a people, called out of sin into holiness of life. What did He cleanse? He cleansed people from their sins. What did He buy? He bought back and redeemed sinful people for God's own possession. (1 Cor. 6:19,20.)
I submit that personal faith in, and baptism into, Jesus the Christ and Son of God, is the way - the way of salvation from past sins; the way into possession of eternal life. "I am the way," Jesus said. (John 14:6.) The church of the New Testament is the sum total of "those of the way," generally speaking, the saved ones everywhere; specifically speaking the saved ones at any particular place.
Jesus did not choose to use the language of a hobbyist, or an engineer, or a scientist, or an industrial employer, or even a coach with players. But he did choose to make use of other illustrations, metaphors, figures, images that help us to see the beautiful personal relationship with God that brings out the various, the beautiful, the intimate communion and fellowship in the relationship that he permits us to have with Him. Perhaps no one illustration is capable of teaching all the multitudinous peculiarities of man's relationship to God; in fact no physical or material illustration could adequately portray all the beautiful aspects of the spiritual relationship that we enjoy with the Almighty.
Our Study
It is the purpose of our study to set forth the various Scripture illustrations that describe our unique fellowship with God and Christ. These illustrations are Head and members in the Body; Father and children (sons) in the family; Shepherd and sheep; Vine and branches; Foundation and building; Husband and wife; and the King and citizens of the Kingdom.
No Bible teacher has the inherent right or liberty to interpret or explain the church of the Bible in any terms other than those used by the Scriptures themselves. It would be somewhat presumptuous to do so. And, when one sees the numerous illustrations presented by the Inspired writers he must also see that it is obviously unnecessary to create his own. One of the brotherhood's most popular writers has an article - a widely circulated article - which says that the church is like a "hospital filled with sick people." Others say the church is like a "business," or a "mighty army," or even as an "aquarium," or an "athletic team." But all such illustrations, examples, metaphors, or analogies are unnecessary. The Holy Spirit has given us adequate illustrations to describe the people of God. These ought to be used by the ministers of the Word, and others, for the most part, left alone.
Bible Illustrations of God’s People, The Church
How then does the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, illustrate the people of God, the church. What illustrations, examples, parables or metaphors are used to help us understand the true nature and essential character of it all.
Three of the most revealing illustrations of the church of the New Testament are taken from the Old Testament. They represent God's people as
1. His bride: God chose Israel as His bride (We hear Him in Jer. 31:32 say: "I was a husband to them (Israel)," and in Isaiah 62:5, "As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee." But things were not always well, and in Ezekiel 16:32 God says: "But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!" Study entire chapter.),
2. His Vineyard: He planted and cared for His vineyard (Study Isaiah 5; Psalms 80:8-19; etc.);
8 ¶ Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it. 9 Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land. 10 The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars. 11 She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river. 12 Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her? 13 The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it. 14 Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; 15 And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself. 16 It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance. 17 Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself. 18 So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. 19 Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
3. His flock: He shepherded His flock. According to an accepted poll, Psalms 23 is the best known and most popular Scripture of all.
KJV = ¶ <<A Psalm of David.>> The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Three Modern Versions
CEV = 1 You, Lord, are my shepherd. I will never be in need. 2 You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams of peaceful water, 3 and you refresh my life. You are true to your name, and you lead me along the right paths. 4 I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won’t be afraid. You are with me, and your shepherd’s rod makes me feel safe. 5 You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch. You honor me as your guest, and you fill my cup until it overflows.
6 Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life, and I will live forever in your house, Lord.
NLT = 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. 2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. 6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
NRSV = 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
Observation and Conclusion:
It is important to note that each illustration stresses God's direct dealings with His people as a people, and His personal and loving care toward them. And when Jesus applied the illustrations to Himself in the New Testament, He emphasized even more strongly the personal relationship which each illustration implied, and the tender, intimate relationship that would exist between Himself and each of the children of God. As for example:
1. He was the bridegroom. Jesus uses it of himself with John's disciples. (Matt. 9:14,15; Mark 2:19,20.; etc.) Paul continues the illustration by teaching that husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church, His bride. (Eph. 5:25-30.) John adds to the analogy by saying, at the end of the Revelation, "the marriage of the Lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready," and then we see "the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (Rev. 19:7; 21:2). Paul uses the metaphor of Jesus as the bride-groom and his church as his bride. Eph. 5:25ff.
2. Jesus claimed to be the vine: All disciples individually are the branches. God is the husbandman. All branches are dependent for their life and fruit-bearing ability upon abiding in Him and on their being pruned by the vinedresser, the Father. (John 15.)
3. Jesus called Himself "the good shepherd:" (John 10:14). One of the most beautiful stories in all the Bible is found in Luke 15 where the good shepherd goes out into the wilderness to seek and to save even one lost sheep, laying down His life for His sheep, leading them out into good pasture and protecting them from the wolves. (Luke 15:3-7; John 10.)
There are four other illustrations of the God’s people used in the New Testament which illustrate the relationship which God has intended for his people.
1. First, God's people are citizens of a kingdom. The original government of God over Israel, which was rejected when the people asked for a king like the heathen nations, has been recovered and spiritualized through Christ. In saving us God "has delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Col. 1:13). This kingdom is "not of this world" (John 8:36), and is not concerned with "food and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men" (Rom. 14:17,18). The word "kingdom" is used 175 times in the New Testament, and is featured in the Beatitudes (Matt. 5; etc.).
2. Next, God's people are His household or family. What was vaguely revealed in the Old Testament is fully worked out in the New. In Christ God begets us again, makes us His children (Gal. 3:27; etc.), adopts us into His family and sends His Spirit into our hearts that we may call Him "Abba Father." (Study 1 John 2:29-3:3; 3:9,10; 8:14-17; Gal. 4:4-7.) Much of the Christian life is determined, as Jesus frequently taught, by this intimate, father/child relationship with God. We are to take no anxious thought even for the material necessities of life, because our heavenly Father knows our needs. We are rather to occupy ourselves with Him, to "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness," to commit ourselves and our affairs to Him, to trust him to take care of us, and all we need will be given us. (Study Matt. 6:7-13; 25- 34; 7:7-11).
3. Thirdly, God's people are a building, "not made with hands," a building which God is Himself constructing, a spiritual temple, with Jesus Christ as the only foundation and the Holy Spirit as the indicator of God's presence. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you" (1 Cor. 3:16). "In whom (i.e., Christ) all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit" (Eph. 2:21,22).
4. Fourthly, God's people are the body of Christ, the most frequently used illustration by Paul, and the only one with no Old Testament equivalent. Christ is the Head to rule and nourish His Body, and the Holy Spirit is the life and power to make it live. Paul refers to the Head, Christ, and says, "From which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God" (Col. 2:19). (See Eph. 4:4,15,16.)
Characteristics Of Inspired Metaphors:
1. No "Human" Intermediaries
A most important fact, as one examines the Biblical illustrations used by the Inspired writers, we see that in every case these approved illustrations reveal first of all, God's relationship to His people, and secondly, the people's relationship to one another. This is simply not true of man's illustrations, as they attempt to teach their peculiar concepts. But it is true of the Bible examples, as we shall see.
2. No Special "Human" Authorities
It is noteworthy that in the New Testament illustrations and metaphors of the church there is scarcely any attention paid to any special or privileged authoritative human element. While leaders are indeed called from among themselves, they are warned to not "lord" it over their fellows. Jesus taught His disciples: "Be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. and whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted" (Matt. 23:8-12). Certain it is, in the New Testament examples, that no recognition is given to ecclesiastic offices and office holders as is common today, and matter-of-factly separate God from God's people. Absolutely no attention is given to a third distinct entity -there is simply no religious organization or institution that comes between God and His people, or between God's people themselves. As Paul says, "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, (2 Cor. 5:19). "There is one God," Paul said, "and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5). In other words, in revealing the nature and work of the church of God - the overwhelming preoccupation of the New Testament is with all the people of God in their relationships , first, with God Himself, and secondly, to each other.
(This is in direct conflict with the many charts used by preachers to show the hierarchy, line and staff management, and degrees of respect and reward for the "princes of Israel" the world seems to expect of religious enterprise today.)
3. Personal And Individual Relationship The Common Denominator
It is significant that all this wealth of illustration has this one least common denominator. In each example the emphasis is either on God's role as husband, shepherd, king, father, builder, etc., in His relationship to His people as His bride, flock, citizenry, family, building, etc., or, upon His people's relationship to each other as branches in the same vine, sheep in the same flock, children in the same family, members of the same body, etc. In other words, each of the pictures illustrates not only the relation between God and His people, but the mutual relationship and duties which all of God's people have with one another. We are fellow-citizens of the kingdom of God, brothers and sisters in the family of God, living stones being built into the spiritual house of God, and fellow-members, one of another, in the Body of Christ, not only receiving life and direction from the Head, but actively inter-acting and inter- depending as a body that is alive should, with specific instructions to love and support one another. (Study 1 Cor. 2:14-26.)
- Hank Tankersley