{"id":1010,"date":"2004-05-25T03:03:14","date_gmt":"2004-05-25T03:03:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aletheiabaptistministries.org\/Blog\/may-qthe-primacy-of-the-local-church-in-this-ageq\/"},"modified":"2014-02-02T07:26:14","modified_gmt":"2014-02-02T07:26:14","slug":"may-qthe-primacy-of-the-local-church-in-this-ageq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aletheiabaptistministries.org\/Blog\/may-qthe-primacy-of-the-local-church-in-this-ageq\/","title":{"rendered":"The Primacy of the Local Church in this Age"},"content":{"rendered":"

We premillennialists understand the two comings of Jesus Christ.\u00a0 The first, as the suffering Lamb of God, has already taken place, and the second, as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, is yet to take place.\u00a0 There have always been those who claim that Jesus Christ has returned in some other way, or that He is alive and hiding somewhere on the earth right now.\u00a0 The Scripture gives no such indication.\u00a0 But did you ever wonder what would happen if Jesus Christ did come to earth, sometime between His first and second comings, and do something that the world really needed done?\u00a0 What would He do?\u00a0 Would the world or His own people respond?\u00a0 Actually, these are not questions for which there is no answer.\u00a0 The biblical fact is, Jesus Christ did come back to earth between His two comings\u2014to a single man on a lonely island in the Mediterranean Sea!\u00a0 He came briefly to this earth and appeared to the last living Apostle, John, and commanded him to write down all that was revealed to him, which he faithfully did.\u00a0 The message contains specific detail of how the present age will end and what men will have to do if they are to escape the coming wrath of an Almighty God.<\/span><\/p>\n

I might have imagined that Christ would come back to Caesar\u2019s throne room.\u00a0 He could have changed the sin and wickedness of the whole empire (the fact that Constantine claimed that this happened, and that the Roman Church is the result, is refutation enough to that supposed event).\u00a0 I might have imagined an end to slavery, homosexuality and martyrdoms, and success in the evangelization of the world due to the return of Jesus to the Mediterranean world in A.D. 95.\u00a0 But, no!\u00a0 His appearance to John would be for a much more earth-shaking reason.\u00a0 His appearance to John was for the expressed purpose of identifying, examining and charging the local churches, during this interim age of grace, to be faithful in their mighty and divine commission!\u00a0 These were not large or famous churches.\u00a0 The persecution that they had already endured and that was yet to come would keep them from becoming Roman Empire mega-churches.\u00a0 Their mission seemed insignificant to the mighty and the wise of their day.\u00a0 Their prayer meetings were deemed powerless next to the incense-burning services of the amphitheaters.\u00a0 Their preaching of cross-bearing was foolishness to the freedom and carnality of the Roman world.\u00a0 But Jesus Christ\u2019s only concern was the fitness and faithfulness of these congregations.<\/p>\n

The local churches were not without their problems.\u00a0 Five out of the seven letters contain scathing rebuke for sin and error that were allowed to remain unchecked within the churches.\u00a0 There was fear and doubt that their meager resources could accomplish the great task that had been given them.\u00a0 It was obvious that the Lord\u2019s promise of blessing was not to everyone who resided in the churches, but to those who would overcome and follow His Word.\u00a0 Though the letters to these churches differ in significant ways, there are many common ingredients in the charges to all seven churches.<\/p>\n

\n

Each letter is addressed to the pastor of the church<\/h3>\n

In chapter one, John sees Christ with seven stars in His right hand.\u00a0 He is told specifically, \u201cThe seven stars are the angels of the seven churches\u201d (1:20).\u00a0 The pastors are called \u201cangels\u201d because they are the messengers of God to the congregations.\u00a0 Paul reminded the Galatian Christians, \u201cAnd my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Jesus Christ\u201d (Gal 4:14).\u00a0 Christ has the pastors in His right hand and He is about to take them for a walk through their churches.\u00a0 No door will remain unlocked, no file unopened, no secret activity will be left behind closed doors.\u00a0 Every letter begins with Christ addressing \u201cthe angel of the church of . . .\u201d\u00a0 and He says \u201cI know your (second person singular) works!\u201d<\/p>\n

How local churches need pastors who can walk with God without fear or shame!\u00a0 Martyn-Lloyd Jones said, \u201cThe preacher’s first, and most important, task is to prepare himself, not his sermon.\u201d1<\/sup> R.A. Torrey said, \u201cMany of us who are professedly orthodox ministers are practically infidels.\u201d2<\/sup> Dr. Clearwaters used to tell us students, \u201cMore of you will fail in administration than in preaching.\u201d\u00a0 But I would have to say today, more of us have failed in preaching than in administration.\u00a0 We are information and administration gurus!\u00a0 But have we prepared ourselves to walk with God among the candlesticks?<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

Each letter is signed from the Holy Spirit to the churches<\/h3>\n

At the end of each letter we read, \u201cHe that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.\u201d\u00a0 The Holy Spirit is the divine Administrator of the church.\u00a0 \u201cThe love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us\u201d (Rom 5:5).\u00a0 These small bands of believers possessed more power within their midst than the whole Roman army could muster in ten life-times.\u00a0 There was no jail cell in the empire that had been able to hold an apostle when the church prayed.\u00a0 He is still in the business of restraining the sin and evil of an entire world (2 Thes 2:7) as well as convicting the entire world of sin, righteousness and judgment to come (Jn 16:8).\u00a0 What could be more important to these churches than the conviction and guiding of this Holy Overseerer?<\/p>\n

The pastor has no fear of church business when the members are Spirit-filled.\u00a0 The voting of the congregations that we see in the New Testament were mere expressions of the Holy Spirit\u2019s will when the majority of Spirit-filled members voted their Spirit-led consciences.\u00a0 But when the Nicolaitans were writing the curriculum (2:6, 15), and Jezebel was doing the counseling (2:20), and Balaam was scheduling Balak to hold special meetings (2:14), no marquee in the empire could promise \u201cRevival begins next week!\u201d\u00a0 God gave us one mouth and two ears so we could \u201chear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

Each letter has reference to the description of the resurrected Christ<\/h3>\n

Paul had written to the Corinthians, \u201cyea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more\u201d (2 Cor 5:16).\u00a0 The earthly ministry of Christ\u2019s first coming is done.\u00a0 If we want a glimpse of Christ today or in the future, we need to read Revelation chapter one.\u00a0 With pieces from that picture of Christ with His head and hairs like wool, His eyes like flames of fire, His feet like burning brass and His voice like many waters, He begins each letter to the churches.\u00a0 To Ephesus, who left their first love, He walks among the candlesticks; to Smyrna, who was suffering persecution unto death, He is the first and the last, who was dead and is alive; to Pergamos and Thyatira, who had not dealt with doctrinal error, He has a sharp sword and feet like brass.<\/p>\n

On the Damascus road Paul learned that when he had persecuted the body of Christ on the earth, he had persecuted the Head in heaven.\u00a0 From that we should learn that our attitude or action toward the local churches on earth is taken personally by our Head who is in heaven.\u00a0 It ought to give us pause.\u00a0 A.J. Gordon wrote, \u201cA noble head, lofty-browed and intellectual, upon a deformed and stunted body is a pitiable sight.\u00a0 Even so, an unsanctified church dishonours the Lord by its incongruity.\u00a0 To the angels and principalities who gaze evermore upon the face of Jesus, what must be the sight of an unholy and misshapen church on earth, standing in that place of honour called ‘His body.\u201d3<\/sup><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Each letter contains the words of Christ: \u201cI know thy works\u201d<\/h3>\n

Whether it is to the five sinning churches or to the two churches who receive no rebuke, Christ declares that He knows what they do.\u00a0 The good works, labor and patience is noted even when the church had serious problems.\u00a0 Service done to God never goes unnoticed.\u00a0 He even took note of Cornelius\u2019 good works before he became a believer (Acts 10:4).\u00a0 But neither does God disregard the sin in the church just because there is a lot of spiritual activity going on.\u00a0 Ephesus was in danger of losing their standing among the candlesticks (2:5) even though Christ knew their works, labor and patience (2:3).\u00a0 Christ was ready to fight against the church at Pergamos (2:16) even though He knew their good works and that they had not denied His name (2:13).\u00a0 When Christ looks at our busy churches and still says, \u201cNevertheless, I have somewhat against thee,\u201d\u00a0 we are in present danger of losing His blessing!<\/p>\n

In the days of American revivalism, local churches found it easy to neglect the important day by day necessities of the church.\u00a0 \u201cRevivalism’s tendency toward spiritual individualism had led evangelists ‘in a great measure to neglect the church.’ But it was in life within the church that believers could find ‘the truths of the gospel that constitute the food of Christians’ that was ‘essential to their sanctification.\u201d4<\/sup> There are no important and unimportant sins within the church.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Each letter leaves room for the individual Christian to do right<\/h3>\n

To the sinning churches, Christ\u2019s simple command is to \u201crepent.\u201d\u00a0 It is not necessary to give God excuses and reasons why we have gone astray.\u00a0 He sees every detail immediately and goes straight to the heart of the matter.\u00a0 He is also ready to forgive at the moment our repentance and confession comes! (1 John 1:9).\u00a0 The Holy Spirit\u2019s invitation to each church is \u201cHe that hath an ear to hear.\u201d\u00a0 Regardless of what the rest of the church is doing, an individual believer is responsible for himself to God and always has the ability to do right.<\/p>\n

When God was ready to throw Thyatira into a bed of fornication with Jezebel, He said, \u201cBut unto you and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan . . .\u201d (2:24).\u00a0 When Sardis was caught in her carnal showiness that lacked any spiritual depth (3:1), the Lord said, \u201cThou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy\u201d (3:4).\u00a0 When God was ready to spew Laodicea out of His mouth for their lukewarmness, He gives the great invitation, \u201cIf any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and sup with him, and he with me\u201d (3:20).\u00a0 None of us will be able to plead individual ignorance when we stand before God.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

And so . . . .<\/h3>\n

Local churches are to Christianity what families are to a nation.\u00a0 When they are redefined, broken down, and lose their authority, the whole will be weakened by the parts.\u00a0 When the government merely uses families to gain and keep political control, that nation is in trouble.\u00a0 When denominations and movements lose sight of the primacy of the local church, and merely use them to keep control, those movements will be in trouble as well.\u00a0 May we remain faithful, vigilant and undaunted in this great business of the local church on earth!<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/address>\n
Notes:<\/address>\n
1.\u00a0Quoted by Tony Sargent, The Sacred Anointing:\u00a0 The Preaching of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 1994) 126.<\/address>\n
2.\u00a0R.A. Torrey, How To Pray (Chicago:\u00a0 Moody Press, nd)\u00a0 101.<\/address>\n
3.\u00a0Quoted by J. Sidlow Baxter, Our High Calling (Grand Rapids:\u00a0 Zondervan, 1977) 91.<\/address>\n
4.\u00a0Charles Hambrick-Stowe, Charles G. Finney and the Spirit of American Evangelicalism\u00a0 (Grand Rapids:\u00a0 Eerdmans, 1966) 180.<\/address>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We premillennialists understand the two comings of Jesus Christ.\u00a0 The first, as the suffering Lamb of God, has already taken place, and the second, as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, is yet to take place.\u00a0 There have always been those who claim that Jesus Christ has returned in some other way, or that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[123],"tags":[143],"class_list":["post-1010","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","tag-church"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Primacy of the Local Church in this Age - Aletheia Baptist Ministries<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/aletheiabaptistministries.org\/Blog\/may-qthe-primacy-of-the-local-church-in-this-ageq\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Primacy of the Local Church in this Age - 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