The Church Foundationally Strong

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Introduction

As we gather this week in this 34th Session of the District Missionary and Educational Congress of the Greater South Florida District Baptist Association we must answer a question.  Why are we here?  Are we here out of habit?  Are we here because someone made you come?  Why are you here?

Our theme for this session is “The Church Foundationally Strong” what does that mean?  Why is it important that the church be foundationally strong?  If you leave this session not understanding the foundation of the church and why it’s important that it be strong, you have not understood the importance of this week and why we were here.

We are living in some damages times.  As I look at the world events, I truly believe that Jesus is coming soon.  Look at the signs of the time.  There are wars and famines through out the world.  We have fires, earthquakes and floods.  The moral climates is changing as those values that we held so dearly are being destroyed by a society which every imagination of the thoughts of heart of man is toward wickedness and away from God.

The church is under attack and Christian Values are being challenge and there is an effort to isolate them between the four walls of our church building.  There is an effort underway to keep Christian broadcast off the airways and off the streets.  They have been successful removing Christian Value from our school and many of our governmental agencies and their desire is to silence all means of spreading the gospel into the world.

With all that is happening the world the greatest danger to the church is not from without, but from within.  If we move from the foundation upon which the church is build, we do not have to fear the world because we will destroy ourselves.  What is this foundation upon which the church is build?  It’s our answer to the question Jesus asked His disciples.

Matthew 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? KJV

When Jesus asked this question, Peter stood and said:

Matthew 16:16-18

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. KJV

Jesus said, “…upon this rock I will build my church…” What is this rock that Jesus speaks of in our scriptures?  It’s not Peter as some would have you believe; but, our understanding and confess of who He is.   That the foundation upon which the church is built and that is the foundation, which is still under, attack today.

In our selected scriptures for our theme, Paul was dealing with this very issue.  There were false teacher who had a distorted view of Jesus and was spreading false doctrine within the body of Christ.

If the church is to be foundationally strong there are three things we should understand about Jesus Christ.

First     Christ is Our Saviour

When we look at verse thirteen and fourteen we can four saving ministry of Jesus.

Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

We know that we were living in darkness and could not save ourselves.  The devil had us bound and we were caught up in the world and the things of this world.  We were powerless to change our ways; but Jesus delivered us from the bandage of sin.

The sing writer put it this way:

I was sinking deep in sin, Far from the peaceful shore,

Very deeply stained within, Sinking to rise no more;

But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry,

From the waters lifted me- now safe am I.

Jesus has delivered us from the power of darkness.

But not only did Jesus delivered us, we are told He:

Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: KJV

Jesus did not deliver us from bondage and left us to ourselves, He moved us into His own Kingdom not to just enslave us but to bring us into the family as sons and daughters.

Jesus delivered us and translated us and we are told in verse fourteen that He:

Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Jesus took upon Himself our sin debt.  We are told:

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. KJV

You and I should have died for our sin; but Jesus went to Calvary cross and redeemed us from the penalty of sin.  Satan seeks to accuse us and imprison us because he knows we are guilty of breaking God’s Law; But Jesus says paid in full and through faith in Jesus Christ we have been set free.

Jesus not only delivered us and transported us and redeemed us; He has also forgiven us.

Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: KJV

If Christ is not our Saviour we are still walking in darkness, still in our sinful state and sentence to death for our sins.  Our foundational faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior frees us from the penalty of sin.

Secondly            Christ is Our Creator

Note what we are told in verses fifteen through seventeen:

Colossians 1:15-17

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

KJV

First of all Jesus is the image of the invisible God.  Nature reveals the existence of God.  It also reveals the power and wisdom of God; but only Jesus can reveal the essence of God.

Greek Philosophers taught that everything needed a primary cause that is a plan, an instrumental cause, which is the power, and a final cause, which is the purpose to come into existence.

When we look at Jesus Christ we understand that He is the primary cause because He planed it before the foundation of the world.  We are told Jesus is ‘…the firstborn of every creature.”  He was there before anything was created.

Jesus Christ is the instrumental cause in that He produced all things, in heaven and in earth.  Jesus is the final cause in that He created all things for His own pleasure.

One of the false teachings was that all matter was evil and since Jesus was good he did not come in a physical form, which means that everything written in scriptures concerning Jesus must be taken spiritually, and literal.   If everything created for Him how can it be evil?

Then notice what Paul says in verse seventeen.

Colossians 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. KJV

So that we don’t get confused by the statement “…firstborn of every creature.”  Paul says in verse seventeen, “And he is before all things and by him all things consist.”

To understand what is meant when Paul says, “. by him all things consist.”  You must read this verse in the NIV:

Colossians 1:17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. NIV

Jesus Christ is the sphere in which everything exists.  He is the agent through which everything came into existence and the One for whom everything was made.

Jesus Christ is our Savior and our creator:

Thirdly              Jesus Christ is our Head

Colossians 1:18-20

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. KJV

The Greek usage of the word “Head” means “source” and “origin” as well as leader or ruler.  As head of the church, Christ is our life source.  Without Him the church is dead, stale and ineffective in the work of the Lord.

As the head of the church, Jesus Christ is the giver of gifts for the ministry of the church.

As the head of the church, Jesus Christ is the assignor of responsibility and roles within the church.

There is no earthly man or woman that is the head of the church.  That position belong to Jesus Christ alone.  You may be an elder, a bishop, a pastor, a deacon, or whatever you want to call yourself, you are not the head of the church.

Paul tells us:

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. KJV

In 1893, the World’s Columbian Exposition was held in Chicago, and more than 21 million people visited the exhibits. Among the features was a “World Parliament of Religions,” with representatives of the world’s religions, meeting to share their “best points” and perhaps come up with a new religion for the world.

Evangelist D.L. Moody saw this as a great opportunity for evangelism. He used churches, rented theaters, and even rented a circus tent (when the show was not on) to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His friends wanted Moody to attack the “Parliament of Religions,” but he refused. “I am going to make Jesus Christ so attractive,” he said, “that men will turn to Him.” Moody knew that Jesus Christ was the preeminent Saviour, not just one of many “religious leaders” of history. The “Chicago Campaign” of 1893 was probably the greatest evangelistic endeavor in D.L. Moody’s life, and thousands came to Christ.

[1]

Why is it important that the Church be foundationally Strong?  Because the Jesus Christ is the only way by which we may be saved.

Jesus tells us:

John 14:6-7

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. KJV

Who do you say Jesus Christ Is?  Is He your Savor?  Is He your Creator?  Is He your Head?

Paul tells us.

Colossians 1:19-20

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. KJV


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[1]Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996, c1989, S. Col 1:18

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