“Great Things for Grievous Times”

 

TOPIC:‌“The Greatest Institution on This Earth”

                  by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap

 

TEXT:‌Ephesians 5:25

 

‌‌“even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”

 

‌Some years ago I received a postcard response from a midwestern state with these words on it: “Sorry, the church has gone out of existence.” For what reason I don't know. It was not given. What I do know is that Satan the sifter has a way of promoting discord and division within the church, thus causing the church to lose its spiritual power and often its very life.

 

‌My dear friends, in a ministry that has expanded over forty years, I cannot recall the number of times I have been called upon to help hurting churches. May God grant that such discord and division will never happen in the church that you attend and in which you work.

 

‌In the verses before us we find five times the Apostle Paul making mention of Christ and His church. In verse 23 we read: “Christ is the head of the church.” In verse 24 we read: “As the church is subject unto Christ.” In verse 25 we read: “Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it.” In verse 27 we read: “That he might present it to himself a glorious church…” In verse 32 we read: “This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”

 

‌This first century Christian could not think of the church apart from Christ. In this message I want us to rediscover several magnificent truths about Christ and His church.

 

I.

 

‌Consider, first of all, the BEGINNING of the church. Note the words of our text: “Christ also loved the church” (v. 25). The church is unique in that it is eternal in duration. It originated way back in eternity with God. Listen to these words of Paul: “According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4). The church belongs to God. It is His possession for He brought it into existence. It started in eternity past when God chose us to be part of the redeemed community.

 

‌The first mention of the church was by Christ when He said to His disciples: “Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). It is upon Christ Himself that the church is built. Though He did not constitute the church at this point, Jesus did apply the term to the company of disciples around Him, . . .