The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-12-04

church, ana gave hlnSelf Tor lt.-EpheSlanS
SIS.
The church, which is so much the
center of life for Christians, is not
as well understood as it should be.
We have come to regard it as just
one organization among many COM
peting for the attention and interest
of men, when it is really divine, liv-
ing organism established by Christ
as His Body and representing Him
in this world. Our lesson presents
significant truth for both study and
teaching The church is
/. A Fellowship of Believers (Acts
2:41-4O.
The church is made up of those
who are saved ". 47), those who
have received the Word by faith and
witnessed a good confession of their
faith in Christ ". Az. This is a
fact to be remembered in a time
when there is SO much laxness in
receiving members into the church.
1t is not a religious or social club.
1t is not a rallying place for those
who wish to work for some eco
nomic, political, or social project. It
is not gathering of good people
who wish to share common inter
ests.
The church needs to cleanse it's
rolls of all unbelievers, all hangers
on, and get back to the purity which
it had when only those were re-
ceived who were manifestly add
ed" by the Lord ". 4O.
Such folk have many interests
which bind them together in fellow
ship, devotion, and service. The
early church was interested in sound
doctrinal teaching ". 42), an excel
lent thing. They had fellowship in
prayer ". 42); we need that too,
They had gladness of heart ", 49,;
do we not need a renewal of the
song of the Lord in our midst?
They had such fervent love for
each other that they established
communal system of sharing with
one another, something which God
had never commanded and which
apparently failed with them, for it
was later abandoned. But the point
is that they really did love each 9TH
er and thus showed their true dis
cipleship (see lesson of last Sun
day..
II. a Center Of Christian Ministry
(Eph. AID. .....
The church is Gods chosen de-
pository for spiritual gifts. among
them being the special ministries
mentioned here. The Holy Spirit
calls men as He chooses. Blessed
is the church which recognizes His
choice of teachers, evangelists,
preachers, and leaders and gives
them liberty to serve the Lord in
their calling.
1t is God who calls men for these
various activities in His vineyard,
Self-appointed or man-chosen lead
ers and preachers are destined to
fail, but Gods men may be assured
of His blessing and power.
III. A Place of Spiritual Growth
(Eph. 4:l2-l6).
The purpose of the gifts of the
Spirit is the edifying and building
up of believers. A church should al
ways be evangelistic in its efforts.
The pastor should be a soul-Winner,
but essentially his ministry is to so
edify and instruct believers that
thew NAV 90 out and win others to
Christ
Verses IS to is tell US how this
"perfecting of the saints moves
forward. There is unity Of the faith
and growth in knowledge, a stead
mess which keeps believers from
being led astray by error or the
cleverness of men. Thus kept from
drifting, and being steadily enriched
in knowledge of the truth, the bellev-
err grows up to spiritual manhood.
Do not miss the beauty and help
fitness of verses Is and l6. Like the
body "ftly framed and knit togeth-
err" the church of Christ is to be a
perfectly co-ordinated organism, ev-
cry member performing its perfect
service in building up the body in
love for the glory Of its Head
Christ.
This figure of the Church as the
body of Christ and the working to-
gether of the members for the glory
of the Head is further developed in
l Corinthians II, which the reader
is urged to consider, especially
verses II to 81.