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Godly Edification
Joe R. Price
The church of Christ is a divine edifice.
It was built by Jesus upon the secure foundation that He is the Christ, the
Son of the living God (Matt. 16:16-18). There is no other foundation; all
others are shifting sand (1 Co. 3:11).
The Lord adds every saved person to
His church (Acts 2:47). As living stones, Christians “are being built up
a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:5).
Just as we want every brick (stone) in
our house to be strong and solid, the Lord wants every Christian to be
strong and solid in their personal faith. The spiritual construction of
your life began when you became a Christian.
The ongoing spiritual growth and
strengthening of disciples is essential to the strength of God’s holy
temple, His church: “in whom the whole building, being fitted together,
grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built
together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Eph. 2:21-22).
Edification is the building up of
believers. We are exhorted, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus
the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the
faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Col.
2:6-7).
To be “built up in Him and established in the faith” is the
objective of “godly edification which is in faith” (1 Tim. 1:4).
Edification that does not come from “the faith” cannot be “in
faith” and thus is not “godly edification.” Allow me to
illustrate.
Many believe good feelings are the
same as godly edification. They are not. One can feel “on top of the
world” and be lost: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its
end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12; cf. Acts 23:1; 26:9).
Many believe camaraderie or a
general air of togetherness is the same as godly edification. It is
not. Even criminal gangs can have unity within it, but they are still
violators of civil law and God’s will: “You shall not follow a crowd to
do evil” (Exo. 23:2).
Many believe eating common meals
together and other types of social gathering is a form of godly edification.
It is not. The food that gives “godly edification” is the food that
“endures to everlasting life,” not the food that momentarily fills
the stomach (Jno. 6:27).
To obtain godly edification we must
feed upon Jesus, the bread of life (Jno. 3:35, 48, 51-58). His words give
us eternal life (Jno. 6:3, 68). Spiritual growth comes from the nourishment
contained in the word of God (1 Pet. 2:2). A meal may give an opportunity
to be built up in the faith (via exhortation or Bible study), but the meal
is not the edification. God’s word accomplishes any growth that occurs by
our observance of it; “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but
righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17).
Godly edification depends on us
growing in the word of God and living what we learn. Christ has given us
exactly what we need for our spiritual growth or edification – His word
(Eph. 4:11-12; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 1 Pet. 2:2). When we grow in our personal
faith and service, the whole body of Christ grows stronger (Eph. 4:16).
Meeting the goal of godly edification
requires that we spend time with God’s word (Acts 14:22; 1 Cor. 14:3-5; 1
Ths. 4:18; 5:11; 1 Pet. 2:2), spend time in prayer and praise (1 Cor.
14:15-17, 26), speak encouraging words (Eph. 4:29), obey apostolic authority
(2 Cor. 10:8; 13:10) and do all things in love (1 Cor. 8:1; 10:23). By
“speaking the truth in love” we “may grow up in all things into Him
who is the head–Christ” (Eph. 4:15).
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You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Bible Question Box (March 2006)
Mary Magdalene and Jude 9
Scripture Reading:
Mark 16:1-9
#1:
Mark 16:9 speaks of “Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven
demons.” Is there anything else mentioned about her being possessed? (Yes, Luke 8:1-3)
1. Mary
is introduced by Luke in Luke 8:1-3.
a.
“Mary called Magdalene” (from Magdala, town on western shore of Sea of
Galilee, Matt. 15:39).
b. Healed by Jesus of “evil spirits” (Lk. 8:2).
c. The affliction of demon possession was never spoken of as a reproach (a
sinful thing), but only as a misfortune.
2.
Summary of Mary’s life:
a.
Recipient of great salvation, Lk. 8:2.
b. Mary showed her gratitude by ministering to Jesus, Lk. 8:2-3; Mk.
15:40-41 (Matt. 27:55-56).
c. Evidently a woman of some means, as she helped provide for Jesus & the
twelve, Lk. 8:2-3.
d. Devoted, faithful & humble follower of Jesus.
e. At crucifixion, Jno. 19:25; burial, Mk. 15:47; Mk. 16:1; among the
first at tomb, Mk. 16:2-8.
f. First person to whom Christ appeared after His resurrection, Mk. 16:9.
g. Given wonderful revelation by Jesus, Jno. 20:11-18 (Mk. 16:10-11; Acts
1:14-15).
3. False
assumptions & allegations:
a. She
was formerly a prostitute (Lk. 7:37; 8:1-2).
b. She married Jesus & bore a son (The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown)
#2: What
does it mean in Jude 9, when it says Satan argued with Michael over the body
of Moses?
1. Jude
warns against false teachers (“dreamers”) who defile the flesh (2 Pet.
2:10), reject authority (Prov. 16:18) & speak evil of dignitaries (v. 9-10).
2. They are not like Michael, who did not bring reviling accusations against
the devil, but gave place to the Lord’s rebuke (v. 9. 2 Pet. 2:11).
3. We are not told the nature of this dispute, Deut. 34:6.
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
A Study of Bible Authority (#10):
Individual Action and Local Church Pt. 2
Scripture Reading:
Acts 11:19-26
1. There is a clear distinction in NT between
congregational action & individual action (1 Tim. 5:16; Matt. 18:15-17; Acts
4:35-5:4).
2. In zeal to protect this NT distinction between individual & local church
action, some brethren have taking positions that (in effect) suggest that
“whatever the local church may not do, individual Christians may not do
(together).”
I. SOME DUTIES ARE CONCURRENTLY
ASSIGNED TO THE INDIVIDUAL & THE L.C.
A. The Discharge of Individual Duty does not Conflict with Collective
Duties.
B. Teaching Gospel: Both Individual & Collective Duty, Acts 8:4;
11:19-23.
C. Benevolence: Both Individual & Collective Duty to Help Needy Saints,
Gal. 6:10; Acts 11:29; 2 Cor. 8:1-7, 11-12 (1 Cor. 16:1-3).
D. Worship: Both Individual & Collective Duty, 1 Cor. 11:18-31; Eph.
5:19; 1 Cor. 14:26; 16:2; 14:16-17, 23.
E. Discipline of Disorderly: Both Individual & Collective Duty, 1 Cor.
5:4, 9-13 (2 Ths. 3:6, 14-15)
II. EACH CHRISTIAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING
HIS PART OF WHATEVER DUTY GOD HAS GIVEN THE LOCAL CHURCH.
A. The Local Church is built up by what each Member Supplies, Eph. 4:16;
1 Cor. 12:26-27 (2 Cor. 8:10-11; 9:7; 1 Cor.16:1-3); Eph. 4:1-3
III. INDIVIDUALS CAN WORK TOGETHER & NOT
BE IN CONFLICT WITH WORK GIVEN L.C.
A. Examples of Individuals Working
Together without being in Conflict with Local Church Action; Matt. 18:16,
17; Acts 12:12, 5; 14:27.
Conclusion
- Eph. 4:15-16
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NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the
light of Scripture)
The
World's Richest People
Joe R. Price
Forbes Magazine announced its annual
list of the world’s wealthiest people Thursday. Bill Gates, chairman of
Microsoft, heads the list with an estimated wealth of $50 billion. Paul
Allen, another Washington state resident, came in at number six with a
paltry $22 billion. (“Gates
Still World's Richest Person,” Gregg Keizer, InformationWeek.com)
Human beings are immortal (Gen. 1:27;
2:7). It is precisely because “we brought nothing into this world, and
it is certain we can carry nothing out,” that we must measure wealth in
ways that transcend the material if we are to get an accurate picture of
one’s prosperity (1 Tim. 6:7). Jesus said, “One’s life does not consist
in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Lk. 12:15). Money is not
the real measure of lasting wealth.
Who is the world’s richest person? God
says it is...
1. The person who is rich toward God.
“Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat,
drink, and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul
will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have
provided?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich
toward God. (Lk. 12:19-21)
2. The person who is saved from his
sin. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and
loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
(Matt. 16:26)
3. The person who lives by faith and
loves God. Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor
of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised
to those who love Him? (Jas. 2:5)
4. The person who is content.
…I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content...Indeed I have all
and abound. I am full.... (Phil. 4:11, 8) And having food and
cloth, with these we shall be content (1 Tim. 6:8).
Are you on God’s list
of the world’s richest people?
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