Gal. 6:12-18, Our Objective: Edification, What church (1)

The question we now ask is this: What kind of church do we see in the New Testament that promotes edification?  What kind of church helps us in the “significant pursuits?”

v A Christ (grace)-centered church.  No one should argue with this.  But how did we come to this conclusion?  Look at the connection between Jesus’ provision of grace through the cross and the six pursuits.

o   Knowing God.  1 John 5:20: We know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true.  God’s best possible revelation of Himself occurred in the Incarnation.

o   Being holy.  Jesus gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people (Titus 2:14).  Jesus suffered outside the gate.  Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate (Heb. 13:12).

o   Doing good works.  Earlier we referred to Titus 3:3-8.  It is a passage that stresses good works as characteristic of believers (v8).  Vs. 8 is set up by vs3-7 which speak of the Incarnation (v4) and our salvation and justification through Jesus Christ our Savior and His grace.  Reread the passage.

o   Love and unity.  The call to unity of Jew and Gentile in the NT Church was predicated on what Jesus was and did: For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity … so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace (Eph. 2:14-15).

o   Sound doctrine.  Wanting to dispel the false teaching of the Judaizers, what does Paul come back to (Gal. 6:12-17)?  The Judaizers’ teaching is that they may boast in your flesh.  But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (v14-15).

o   Standing firm.  The cross is fundamental to our standing firm.  Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls (Heb. 12:2-3).  And again, 2 Cor. 12:9: And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power od Christ may rest upon me.

The constant emphasis on the gospel and its powerful effect in the life of the Christian must characterize a church that Christ is building.  In the teaching, the ordinances, and the everyday fellowship of believers it will be seen.