The Church, God Manifested in the Flesh—Ch.23

15 But if I delay, I write that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and base of the truth.

16 And confessedly, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.

THE CHURCH— GOD MANIFESTED IN THE FLESH

Scripture Reading: 1 Tim. 3:15-16; John 14:6, 17

I.     The church is the house of God

  1. The church is mentioned with the manifestation of God in the flesh because the church is the house of God.
  2. The house of God is the place where God dwells, where He lives, and where He works out His life.
  3. When we say the church is the house of God, we must have a very deep realization that God dwells, lives, and works out His life in this house; do you have such a deep understanding?

II.   The church is the pillar and base of the truth:

  1. We need to ask, what is this truth?
    1. Truth is reality, but what is the real thing?
    2. Christ is the reality of everything—the real food, life, etc.
    3. His Spirit is the Spirit of reality—John 14:17.
  2. The church in which the living God dwells is the pillar and base upon which the reality stands.
  3. Inwardly, God dwells in the church; outwardly, the church bears the testimony and the reality, which is Christ Himself.
  4. If anyone wants to know what this reality is they must come to the church

III.  The church is the manifestation of God in the flesh:

  1. The church is the continuation and the multiplication of “God manifest in the flesh;” this why Paul put these verses together.
  2. The manifestation of God in the flesh has much to do with the church being the house of God and the pillar and base of the truth.
  3. The church must have God in Christ through the Spirit manifested, not the doctrines or gifts demonstrated.

IV. We need to see how the church is built:

  1. Not built by outward change, but the mingling of God with man.
  2. Not built by mere teachings, but a real touch with God and life.
  3. Not built by mere gifts, but the imparting of Christ into us.
  4. Not built by position, but growth to maturity of the inner life.

Spoken June 27, 2014


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