The Church You Need To Know Part 10

Knowing the Church Series

The Church that stands in the road is also in the world's way.

"Paul, an apostle (not [sent] from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead)." Galatians 1:1

The infallible word of God declares Paul's position in God's Kingdom to be an Apostle. There is a critical point to be made by Paul in Galatians 1:1 for today's Church.

In the Church You Need to Know, Salvation is understood to not come from man or his agency.

If we narrow Paul's statement down to his specific calling as an Apostle alone, we will not understand that a broader principle applies. We will miss the more significant meaning for every Church generation. Jesus said, "...he who is forgiven little loves little." There is something utterly humiliating about being forgiven sins that deserve eternal punishment—a well-saved person reveals that humiliation and the love that follows in his demeanor and attitude of repentance.

However, one thing that should give any mature believer pause about the Church is how hypocrisy and a lack of love for Christ form over time. Why? We are told in 1 Corinthians 8:1, "Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies." The word for arrogant in Greek is physióō from physa, "air-bellows," which inflates by blowing up. Used in a figurative sense is an egotistical person spuing out arrogant thoughts. Jesus said, "One of you will betray me." Each one responded, "Surely not I."

Christianity rightly lived out is "one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread" William Caey; or forgiveness through no righteousness of one's own. The problem is how we educate and view authority in the Church. What we do is a corruption of how Jesus discipled the eleven. The twelfth was so crushed under the weight of his misguided religion and murderess rampage on the Church that his humility was indelible upon his soul, and with continual chastening, he could not escape a humility of brokenness.

The Church can come together and, through prayer and fasting, seek to confirm what God is already doing in a person. The Church can endorse, but it does not do the sending. At the heart of Christ-centric teaching is the recognition that God works as much in salvation as He did at creation - more really. To create, all God had to do was speak, but to redeem, He had to bleed. Yes, God uses people to accomplish His will, but when God is at work within the person being used, who is doing the good work? Can any of us do good apart from God at work within us? Hear the words of Philippians 2:12, 13: "...work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for [His] good pleasure."

The Church You Need To Know Recognizes False Brethren Outside and Inside the Church.

The Apostle Paul did not recognize men or the agencies of men in his calling as an Apostle. I did not say Paul did not recognize the Church as the institution of God but that he did not recognize men and their institutions parading as the Church. I have indicated in previous posts the sin of dividing the church by denominations, here in the Apostle's own words, as inspired by God, that such divisions should not be.

"But [it was] because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. Those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. (He who effectually worked for Peter in [his] apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles). Galatians 2:4, 6, and 8. Big Question: Do you recognize leaders in your sphere because they are recognized by God or you? If you say both, you will need to be correct when you stand, as we all will, before God in judgment. Second Question: Have you verified through prayer and study of the world, not merely reading it, that each teaching is pleasing to God and not just you?

The Church You Need To Know Recognizes the Calling of Every Authentic Believer.

The Apostle Paul said he was not sent from men. Men were not the authors or means of his Apostleship. Recognizing a person's calling and taking the authority to send them are different. He said he was not sent from men nor through the agency of man. Sinful people take authority that does not belong to them.

The Greek word for an agency is dia, A preposition meaning across." It is a root of the term diameter or across to the other side. It is of one who is the author of the action, its instrument, or the efficient cause. Christianity teaches that God is the author and the mechanism by which men are saved and called into service to Jesus Christ our Lord. The Church you need to know understands that God alone sends men, and He alone teaches them, not men. "As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you;" 1 John 2:27.

If there is no place in your heart for this reality, you might be elevating men and their institutions (Universities) to the status of idols. Beware!