The Dependence of the Church on Christ

3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

In Christ Jesus we see the fullness of God, in the New Testament Church we see the fullness of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:25 (KJV 1900)

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Ephesians 1:19 (KJV 1900)

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Authority

Ephesians 1:22 (KJV 1900)

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

Ephesians 3:21 (KJV 1900)

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

This is awesome. The Kingdom of God is seen in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is seen in the New Testament Church.

The Church is likened to a building.

Ephesians 2:19–22 (KJV 1900)

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The foundation is that every New Testament Church is the Word of God with Jesus Christ as the Cornerstone.

In biblical days, the cornerstone was a large stone which held and locked two walls together by entering into each wall. The chief cornerstone rests upon the foundation. Ephesians 2:14-19 tells us these 2 walls are the Jews and the Gentiles.

We are the stones in the temple.

1 Peter 2:5 (KJV 1900)

5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

No building is in complete without every brick in place.

What is the purpose of the building, the church, which is the temple of God?

Habitation of His Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 2:21–22 KJV 1900

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

In the Bible, the Temple is a dwelling place of God - whether the tabernacle in the wilderness, Solomon’s temple, the physical body of the Lord Jesus Christ, the physical body of each believer, the New Testament Church, the Millennial temple, or the New Jerusalem.

The Pillar and Ground of His Holy Truth.

1 Timothy 3:15 (KJV 1900)

15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

The foundation to every truth in the Word of God is a New Testament Church.

The Great Commission encourages the Lord’s churches to properly ground those who are saved and then baptized. The churches are His teaching agencies. He has nothing else.

Priestly Service.

1 Peter 2:5 (KJV 1900)

5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9 (KJV 1900)

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

The function of priests are to serve God by offering sacrifices to Him. As priests, we don’t offer animal sacrifices, we offer living sacrifices.

Romans 12:1 (KJV 1900)

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

1 Corinthians 3:9–15 (KJV 1900)

9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

In the future, we are not going to be judged according to our sins. Sins are taken care of with our repentance from dead works and faith toward God.

When we stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ after the resurrection answering the question, “How did we build up and grow the New Testament Church.”

The Church is likened to a Bride.

Ephesians 5:25–27 KJV 1900

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

If the church is likened to a bride, Christ is the Bridegroom.

2 Corinthians 11:2 (KJV 1900)

2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Revelation 19:7–9 (KJV 1900)

7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

This relationship demonstrates the love relationship between Christ and His churches.

This is why purity in the church is our main obligation outside of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 17:1–6 (KJV 1900)

1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters [universal]:

2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication [state institute], and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication [ritualistic, formalistic organizatin]:

5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus [persecutor of the church]: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.