WhatDidJesusBuild

2Cor 11:3 “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from ‘The Simplicity And Purity That Is in Christ’”

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Ephesians 5:25-29 NKJV

25 . . . just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. . . . 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.

The first part of this last segment of our examination on what the Scriptures actually say about the “building of the church” is a statement by Robert Turner, a preacher who had a Paducah connection many years ago but spent most of his preaching in Central Texas. He, by my judgment, knew more of the Bible and presented it more forcefully, than most any other preacher it has been my privilege to know. Read carefully please:

“World scholars seem to agree that the church was ‘established’ in Jerusalem, the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ. Acts chapter 2 gives the record, and only a few with some creed to defend offer objection. But WHAT was established when the church was ‘established?’ Foolish question?? Well, read the chapter again please, carefully.

“Any ‘dedication’ services? ‘Chairman’ appointed? Any of the ‘institutional’ procedures one would expect if today's common conception of ‘church’ were correct? It just isn't there.

“Today the emphasis is upon the party -- the church is something like a lodge, or ‘Royal Order of Saints’ -- a society, somehow related to certain buildings. This conception is totally missing in God's record of establishment.

“Prophecies concerning the establishment of the church invariably refer to the relationship, or the basis for the relationship, between God and individuals. Isaiah says, ‘the mountain of Jehovah's house shall be established on the top of the mountains –‘ referring to the establishment of God's law for all nations. (Isa. 2:1-f.) The promised kingdom was a promise of peace according to divine government. (Isa. 9:1-f.) The ransomed of Jehovah would walk in ‘The Way of Holiness.’ (Isa. 35:8-f)

“It seems many think of the church as something like a little red wagon. ‘Established on Pentecost’ – it stood ready to roll, and people could jump in and ride to heaven. But somewhere along the line a side-rail broke, an axle was bent, the tongue came loose, and finally a wheel fell away. Luther tried to put the wheel back on, but further bent the axle in his effort. Others replaced the tongue with a new but different instrument – unsuited to the purpose and function of the original tongue. Alas, the church was broken down and out of service.

“Then A. Campbell and Barton Stone determined to restore the church. They straightened the axle, replaced the tongue with an original model, repaired the side-rail and put the wheel back in place, now people could again ride home to heaven.

“Have I stretched the picture? Perhaps – but only to emphasize what I believe to be an entirely erroneous conception of the church established on Pentecost. This is a denominational concept. It glorifies the ‘party’ and does not properly distinguish between faithful and unfaithful people.

“The word ‘church’ is a collective noun, and it ‘collects’ people. But not just any people. Christ's church consists of ‘saints and faithful brethren,’ ‘a people for God's own possession.’ (Col. 1:2; 1 Pet. 2:9) Of all the multitude gathered in Jerusalem, only those who ‘gladly received his word’ and ‘were baptized’ became a part of the church, (Acts 2:41), and members of the one Body.

“All saints do sin, as John says (1Joh 1:10), but each one is expected to repent and pray God for forgiveness. Failing to do this, they are denied the fellowship of Christians (1 Cor. 5). A congregation of Christians who, collectively, no longer act in keeping with God's will is unworthy of a name and place among the churches of Christ. (Rev. 2) The Lord's church consists of people identified with the truth – not just a people identified with a party.

“What God established – truth – the New Covenant – never changes. (1 Pet. 1:23-f) But the party – the people – could fall away. (1 Tim. 4:1-f.) First their attitude toward divine authority is altered, then their practices, then, usually many years later, their terminology. Because the rule is one thing, and the people who supposedly follow the rule is another, Paul said we must not measure ourselves by ourselves. (2 Cor. 10:12-f) One may ‘stay with the building,’ ‘stay with the preacher,’ ‘stay with the elders,’ ‘stay with 90% of the people’ – and yet leave the church which God established (the saved). In fact, this is precisely the history of denominationalism to His cause. I must know the truth, and obey it, regardless of the action of others – ‘in the church’ or out of it. I must remember that it is the purified and cleansed church – not the "party" – that Christ promises to save eternally. (Eph. 5:26-27) What God really established is firm and sure, and cannot be shaken. Heb. 10:28.”

Just What Did Christ Build (The following is also by Robert Turner, but edited slightly by HT, who stands accountable for its teaching.)

What did Christ build when He built the church? The figure is that of constructing a temple (1 Cor. 3:10-17) where "lively stones" (1 Pe 2:5) are put together upon the "foundation" -- the truth that Jesus is the Christ. (When messengers of Christ are considered the "builders" (1 Cor. 3) or even the "foundation" (Eph. 2:20-22), the essential truth is maintained -- Christ is building His church; i.e., He is bringing together people who heed His call; and as an assembly or called-out body of people they are, when considered as a whole, likened unto a building.

What did Christ buy when he bought the church? (Acts 20:28.) The figure is that of manumission; paying the price for a slave in order that he may be freed. (1 Cor. 6:20; 7:22,23; Gal. 5:1.) We were slaves of sin until we "obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine;" a freeing that was made possible by Christ's death on our behalf. (Rom. 6: 1-18.) So Christ "paid the price" for your sins, and mine. By His death he "acquired" (footnote, ASV) people, one by one; saving each from his sins as that one humbly submits to His will.

The figure of buying the freedom of a slave may have been taken from the common practice of the first century, records of which are preserved to this day. Just remember, Christ bought people who, considered collectively, are called "the church."

What did Christ cleanse when He cleansed the church? (Eph. 5:25-27.) He made clean those people who submit to "the washing of water with the word." This figure is a common one -- the removal of sins being likened to filth, washed from clothes or body. (Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21.) As the application of "the water with the word" is obviously made to individuals, as each hears and learns the truth, and obeys it; we are again faced with the fact that Christ's cleansing of "the church" is the remission of sins which He makes possible for people, one by one; who are called "the church" when considered collectively.

Now all of these things Christ is said to have done: He built the church, bought the church, cleansed the church. The foundation has been firmly laid, the purchase price paid, and the cleansing blood shed. His sacrifice of Himself was "once for all" (Heb. 10:10), and need never be repeated. But there is a sense in which the construction work continues and "lively stones" continue to be placed upon that foundation. The "price" for freedom from sin is still amply provided for all who will avail themselves of this marvelous opportunity. The cleansing power of the blood of Christ is yours and mine for the using -- in coming unto Him, and as we falter in His service. (Note 1Jo 1:7; 2:1,2.)

Christ did not build, buy, and cleanse some sort of vehicle into which you come, be seated, and ride home to heaven. He will build you from your spiritual filth; and then you will be a part of that body of people who have been saved by His grace, and have thus become the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. (End of Turner articles)

Large crowds were walking along with Jesus, when he turned and said: You cannot be my disciple, unless you love me more than you love your father and mother, your wife and children, and your brothers and sisters. You cannot come with me unless you love me more than you love your own life. You cannot be my disciple unless you carry your own cross and come with me. Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. What is the first thing you will do? Won't you sit down and figure out how much it will cost and if you have enough money to pay for it? Otherwise, you will start building the tower, but not be able to finish. Then everyone who sees what is happening will laugh at you. They will say, "You started building, but could not finish the job." What will a king do if he has only ten thousand soldiers to defend himself against a king who is about to attack him with twenty thousand soldiers? Before he goes out to battle, won't he first sit down and decide if he can win? If he thinks he won't be able to defend himself, he will send messengers and ask for peace while the other king is still a long way off. So then, you cannot be my disciple unless you give away everything you own. Salt is good, but if it no longer tastes like salt, how can it be made to taste salty again? It is no longer good for the soil or even for the manure pile. People simply throw it out. If you have ears, pay attention! (CEV)

It is a sobering thought to me that every one of us – yes my friend – every single one of us is in Christ at this very moment, or, we are not in Christ. Do the Scriptures teach that there are other categories? If so, what are they?

It is human nature to avoid difficult decisions as long as we can, and yet the status of one’s everlasting soul would seem to demand an immediate decision. It has been said many times that Satan’s most successful weapon in destroying men is to advocate that we just wait, there is plenty of time to prepare for the judgment. One of the wisest statements ever uttered is that “Procrastination is the thief of time: Year after year it steals, till all are fled.” (Edward Young, 1683-1765). Peter’s statement is still relevant, although written nearly 2000 years ago: “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1Pe 4:17,18).

The very first thought that jumps out when one hears the words heaven and hell used together is the extreme contrast that exists between the two. We might compare any number of words with their antonyms -- good and evil, life and death, sickness and health, hot and cold, and for athletics win and lose, and on and on, but probably no two words used together shout forth the dramatic contrast as does the words heaven and hell.

And yet, if we will believe it, God's religion has always been a matter of extreme contrasts. It is rather amazing that God from the very first has ordained eternal death for sin, and, eternal life for righteousness. No middle ground, no other options, no other alternatives, no other choices and no exceptions; just life or death. A real win or lose situation.

Could anything have been more extreme than the punishment rendered to Adam and Eve for their disobedience? And even now we are all engaged in a life and death struggle. We are in a must win and can't lose situation -- eternal life or eternal death. The Catholic Church has conceived the doctrine that there is a purgatory, and Webster has given it a definition, saying it is "a region between heaven and hell; a place of temporary suffering." But the Bible knows nothing of this in-between place -- nothing at all. The Bible talks only of salvation or damnation, heaven or hell. Nothing else, no middle ground, just these two inevitable destinations after the judgment.

Mankind's journey to one or the other of these two exclusive destinies all began in the beautiful garden 6000 years ago. Mankind was alive and well because of communion and fellowship with the Giver of life. But the devil deceived Eve into thinking that there were other options opened to her and Adam, than that laid out by God. Although He had told them plainly that obedience to his commandments was a matter of life and death, Eve probably did not believe that it was all that important, nor that final. But it was! "Thou shalt not eat of it," He said, "for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Gen. 2:17).

The Almighty God is the mainspring of life, the very source. The Father hath life "within Himself," Jesus said. (Joh 5:26.) But, because of this disobedience, God separated himself from man, driving him from his presence, thereby bringing the death penalty upon all of us. Paul says, "As by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Rom. 5:12). And, if anyone considers it such an injustice to be condemned through Adam, Paul makes it clear that we are dead because of our sins and iniquities. He refers to our death because of our sins a number of times. (Eph. 2:1,5: Col. 2:13; etc.)

Throughout the earthly ministry of Jesus he consistently spoke of the two exclusive ways of life, and the two exclusive destinies. In Matthew 7:13,14 we read of the two destinies and the two becauses. Jesus says:

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

Here, under the analogy of entering two cities, which we might call "Destruction" and "Life," few passages describe the extremity of alternatives better than this. One is the way of life eternal and the other the way of eternal destruction. The way that leads to life is strait and narrow and the way that leads to destruction is wide and broad. Jesus says that there will be few who find the right way. But, there are only two ways, no more, and we can take only one, and this will lead to one destination or the other! There is no middle ground.

In Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus tells of two builders who built houses. Here again we have the two destinies and the two becauses. One built upon the rock -- hearing the sayings of Jesus and doing them. One built upon the sand -- hearing the sayings of Jesus and doing them not. The house built upon the rock stood firm. The house built upon the sand fell and great was the fall of it. Again, Jesus Himself says that there are only two spiritual houses that one can build, no more, and the house that we choose to build is the very house that we will live with forever. We can build only one!

Another striking passage is where Jesus, using the picture of a shepherd with his sheep, tells his Jewish brethren that, "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad" (Matthew 12:30). Human nature rebels against such drastic choices. We want more alternatives than this. We want to be able to be neutral if we want to be. We don't want a "win or lose" situation if we can help it.

In Romans 6, that beautiful chapter that we use to show that baptism is a burial, and illustrates a death to sin, Paul speak of masters and servants, and of two destinies:

"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? . . . as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness . . . for the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom 6:16-23).

And Jesus says, "No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Luke 16:13). Strangely, spiritual loyalty to a Spiritual Lord must be true, or it is not true. Apparently there can not be any divided allegiance! There is no middle ground.

This is consistent with what the Risen Christ said about the church of the Laodiceans:

"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth" (Rev. 3:15,16).

Concerning spiritual relationships, John speaks of two fathers, and the nature of their children.

"In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. . . . We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him." (1 John 3:10,14,15).

It is very interesting that the Bible seems always to be demanding a choice -- a choice concerning allegiance. Way back when the children of Israel were about to go into the promised land Joshua commanded, "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve." It has to be one way or the other. Make a choice. Hundreds of years later Jesus came on the scene as Saviour and told his Jewish brethren, "If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (Joh 8:24). No mere suggestion, no room for misunderstanding, just a plain statement of fact: If you do not believe on me you will die! Somewhat later he stated: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (14:6). Again, a simple statement of claim, and we have to decide whether we are going to believe it or not. A life or death, win or lose, decision. No other alternatives.

The Lord seems always to be demanding a choice of his followers. "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you" (2 Cor. 6:17). Note the two choices: If you will leave them, then I will receive you.

Again, Paul says, "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them," (Eph. 5:11). No neutral ground, and not only not approve of evil, but, resist it. Peter says:

"Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness - into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).

Paul says, "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting" (Gal. 6:8). Two causes, with two effects. The flesh against the spirit; corruption or eternal life. One or the other! No middle ground.

Paul says "the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other" (Gal.5:17); and, "the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Rom. 8:7).

And on and on this separation goes on, and the destination of either heaven or hell revealed. One or the other is surely our eternal home. No other alternatives. No middle ground!

To the contrary, while the Lord is trying to separate, the world seems always trying to put everybody together. No real rights and wrongs, no real difference in destinies. Someone once wrote a little quip that says:

But, in a significant sense the church of the Lord is -- consists of -- those who have chosen the better way; the way of life eternal, the way of the house built upon the rock, the way of the Lord, the way of serving God in righteousness, and who possess the Holy Spirit of God and worship the one true God. These are looking forward to the coming of the Lord. Those who are not of this way have nothing to look forward to. Nothing at all!

Upon entering into a study of the New Testament one is immediately faced with the fact of the kingdom of heaven. We learn that this is where the God of heaven reigns. Jesus began his ministry by preaching the gospel of the Kingdom. Instruction such as the Sermon on the Mount indicated the nature of those who would be citizens of the kingdom. He explains that the kingdom was spiritual, "not of this world" (Joh 18:36). Paul tells us that it is not "meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Rom. 14:17).

"To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life" (Rom. 2:7).

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you" (1 Pet 1:4).

Some of the most vivid imagery found in the New Testament is found in the last two chapters of Revelation. John says:

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Rev. 21:1-4).

Not only will heaven be wonderful because of what is there, but also because of what is not there.

"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone . . . And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie" (Rev. 21:8,27).

If this is not enough to motivate us to put forth every effort to seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and to live according to his will, will not the fear of punishment do so?

But equally put forth is the doctrine of hell. In Matthew 5:22 Jesus speaks of those who stand in danger of "hell fire." He says that if an eye, or a hand should offend, these should be plucked out or cut off, for, says he, "it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell" (Matt. 5:29,30). He warns his disciples to "fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Mat 10:28).

One of the strongest rebukes the Lord ever made against the scribes and Pharisees concerned the end result of their influence. They were affecting the life and thinking of their followers, and Jesus wanted them to know that they would be accountable for the consequences.

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. . . . Ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves" (23:13,15).

He concludes this denunciation by telling them: "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? (v.33).

In Matthew 25 Jesus describes the judgment scene as a shepherd who separates the sheep from the goats. He says:

"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: . . . and these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal" (vs. 41,46).

It is interesting that Jesus in speaking of his home town, which would be blessed exceedingly by his presence, says: "And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell" (Luke 10:15). It is obvious that "to whom much is given, much will be expected."

Paul teaches that "the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.' (Rom. 1:18). Have you ever seriously contemplated the terms that the Scriptures use to represent the punishment of God that has provoked this "wrath?" All of us have read the Scriptures describing hell. But have we ever really seriously contemplated them? -- "outer darkness," a place of "weeping and gnashing of teeth," "furnace of fire," "everlasting fire" "unquenchable fire," a place "where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched," "everlasting destruction," "vengeance of eternal fire," the "blackness of darkness forever," "a lake of fire," "a lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death," a place where "the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night", etc. Think of all this! Could anything be more terrible? The terribleness of punishment -- could this help us to know how terrible sin really is? And yet, even this promise of punishment, and the severity of such punishment, for the disobedient and unrighteous, does not seem to keep mankind from sinning. Do we really believe what the Bible says about hell?

Mankind is prone to talk about the price one has to pay in order to succeed. "You have to pay the price," we have all heard. But in reality, it is not the cost of salvation, but the extreme high cost of being lost that costs so very much. The price of eternal life is very cheap. "Come unto me," said the Saviour, "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matt. 11:28,30). John assures us that "His commandments are not grievous" (1 John 5:3). But the cost of eternal death is unbelievably high. If there is any question as to the truthfulness of this, we might ask the rich man whose judgment is recorded in Luke 16:19-31).

"Rich man, why did you come to this sad end?" What would he say to this? Self- interest? Trying to walk the middle road between seeking first the Kingdom of God, and trying to satisfy the lust of the flesh? What would you think he might say?

"Rich man, what advice would you give us today?" Would he not tell us -- “please, please, please – teach us forcefully, yea, beg us -- to give diligence to make our calling and election sure? Urge us to make all due provisions for the soul, and not our bodies?” What would he tell us?

Perhaps the saddest souls in hell will be those who tried to live two lives, the life of the flesh and the life of the spirit. This simply cannot work "For what shall it profit a man," Jesus said, "if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mar 8:36). The story of another rich man, recorded in Luke, chapter 12, clearly shows the futility of trying such. "So is he," Jesus said, "that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God" (v. 21). The judgment scene will have many who have tried to walk the middle ground. Of some of these the Lord has said: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Mat. 7:21:23).

We close by repeating the concern of a great preacher and for many of us: “Around 1878 Moses E. Lard, one of the greatest of the Restoration Preachers became greatly concerned about the terrible times of his day, and gave much thought to death and the hereafter. It is said that he entertained no doubts whatsoever concerning those who were truly God's children, and died in the faith, but he did have some problems when he considered that many of the redeemed would be ‘scarcely saved’ and many of the condemned would be ‘scarcely lost.’ There would be a line of difference so fine between the two classes of ‘scarcely lost’ and ‘scarcely saved’ that only the Son of God, as the Scripture says, could judge between them.”

I have heard many sermons through the years concerning “degrees” of punishment, and “degrees” of reward. Whether this be true, or whether it is an effort of loving preachers of righteousness to soften the hard doctrine of the harshness of hell, we will not judge. This is a matter that should challenge us all to, as the old song says,

“In times like these we need a Savior; we need an anchor; be very sure, be very sure, your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock! That Rock is Jesus, Yes, He’s the One. That Rock is Jesus, The Only One.”

My only answer is that whatever God chooses to do with all those who would be questionable to us, we know that with Him – it will be just!

When we walk with the Lord In the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey.