There is a Constituted Rule in the Church

The point: Seek instruction so that your head catches up with your heart and feet, developing an intelligent perception of biblical truth.

Martin compares his sermon to 'preventive medicine' or 'inoculation' against the 'infectious disease' of breakdown in leader-member relationships, drawing from problems observed in sister churches.

And so the importance of the thing itself warrants the treatment. Secondly, the situation as it exists in our sister churches and in the Church of Christ at large demands that this subject be treated. The hearts of your elders and some of us in the congregation who have been acquainted at least in a surface manner with some of the problems that our sister churches have encountered in recent months and years cause me to feel as a pastor that I must seek to give. Some preventive medicine, some good doses of inoculation against this infectious disease of a breakdown in the relationship between th...

4:06 - 4:50 Read in full sermon

The point: Seek instruction so that your head catches up with your heart and feet, developing an intelligent perception of biblical truth.

A congregation with internal tension and insubordination is described as turning inward upon itself and being 'crippled in its spiritual usefulness,' unable to pursue a broader vision.

You have a congregation that turns inward upon itself. You have a congregation that turns inward upon itself. You have a congregation that turns inward upon itself. And is crippled in its spiritual usefulness.

5:33 - 5:40 Read in full sermon

The point: Seek instruction so that your head catches up with your heart and feet, developing an intelligent perception of biblical truth.

Using the biblical figure of lengthening stakes and strengthening cords, Martin illustrates the church's expanding vision and the need for internal immunization against anarchy and tyranny.

And because God has been laying upon us in recent months a much broader vision of our responsibility to our generation, He's been causing us to lift up our eyes, to change the biblical figure, to lengthen our stakes, to strengthen our stakes and to lengthen our cords. It is essential that there come into the bloodstream of this congregation those elements of biblical truth in this area that will immunize us against this infectious disease of anarchy, congregation to its leaders, tyranny in the leadership as it seeks to rule in the congregation of God. So that's the second reason.

5:41 - 6:23 Read in full sermon

The point: Let your family life reflect the glory of God's order, with children lovingly submitting to parents and parents firmly and lovingly taking their headship.

He uses the contemporary energy crisis and public refusal to comply with government proposals as an example of the age's rebellious spirit against constituted authority.

We hear it on the radio every day. What's wrong with the government? They can't settle the energy crisis. Then the government comes up with a proposal, and you've got every segment that doesn't completely feel satisfied saying, we're not going to comply with it.

7:06 - 7:19 Read in full sermon

The point: Let your family life reflect the glory of God's order, with children lovingly submitting to parents and parents firmly and lovingly taking their headship.

The example of immature students dictating policy to colleges illustrates the pervasive spirit of anarchy where 'every man does that which is right in his own eyes.'

Every man doing that which is right in his own eyes. It follows through. It follows through at every level. Thank God some of it's crested in certain areas, but the whole idea that immature 20-year-old students should have the right to sit down and dictate to colleges student policy, educational policy, brilliant young know-nothings who force their way into the dean's room and say, we want a place in the administration of the affairs around here.

7:31 - 8:00 Read in full sermon

The point: Let your family life reflect the glory of God's order, with children lovingly submitting to parents and parents firmly and lovingly taking their headship.

A Christian home with loving, submissive children and firm, loving parents is presented as a beautiful counter-testimony to the breakdown of parent-child relationships in the world, just as the church should be an oasis of order.

Now, our usefulness lies in our ability to be kept by the grace of God from the crippling sins of our age. What a beautiful thing is a Christian home in a day when there's a breakdown of parent-child relationships. What a beautiful thing, what a wonderful age in which to live as a Christian family, that your family life will reflect. The glory of God's order.

8:17 - 8:40 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon's first main point is the assertion that a constituted rule exists in the visible church, evidenced by the word 'rule' (governor) in the New Testament and the clear…

The story of Joseph's rule in Egypt is used to illustrate the extensive and authoritative nature of the word 'rule' (governor) in the New Testament, showing it's not merely suggestive but governing power.

Turn to Acts chapter 7 and verse 10. Acts chapter 7 and verse 10. Speaking of Joseph who was sold into Egypt but nonetheless had the presence of God with him, verse 10, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh king of Egypt and made him, same word, ruler, governor over Egypt and all his house. Now if you want to know what it meant to be governor, to be ruler, go back to Genesis and see.

13:01 - 13:41 Read in full sermon

Driving home: A Christian church is a very free society but they mistake the matter who consider it as a democracy. The church is a monarchy administered by inferior men magistrates chosen by their fellow subjects who are to execute t…

Martin quotes John Brown's exposition of 1 Peter 5 to emphasize the balance between leaders not usurping Christ's authority and members not engaging in anarchy, defining the church as a monarchy under Christ.

And that's why I read to you this morning the comments of John Brown. It is quite plain from these passages that obedience and submission are required from church members to their office bearers. It is unhappily too certain that much mischief has been done and much good prevented by church officers assuming a power and an authority that do not belong to them but to the one Lord and encroaching on the liberties which every Christian possesses in unalienable right by virtue of the gift of his one Lord. However, he says, great harm has been done by church members impiously

16:55 - 17:38 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Without such a conviction, obedience to that authority as a religious duty is impossible.

Martin quotes John Brown again to stress that without conviction that the church is a divine institution and its officers divinely authorized, obedience to that authority as a religious duty is impossible.

It is of great importance that a man should be persuaded that the Christian church is a divine and not a human institution, and that its office-bearers, properly chosen, are authorized by the Divine Head, capital H, to execute His laws and to administer His ordinances. Now get the next statement. Without such a conviction,

25:25 - 25:50 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Without such a conviction, obedience to that authority as a religious duty is impossible.

The example of not binding a Christian's conscience to wear a tie in church illustrates that leaders cannot impose rules without clear biblical warrant.

That's why we don't say you must wear a tie when you come to church. We can't bind the conscience of a Christian to a tie. We have no chapter and verse.

26:12 - 26:20 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The rule's boundaries are strictly the written Word of God; leaders are to be obeyed only insofar as they expound and apply Scripture, not their arbitrary will, and members are…

Martin uses personal examples of advising on mustaches or marriage partners to illustrate the boundaries of an elder's jurisdiction, distinguishing personal opinion from biblical command.

difference? That's why there are times when, jokingly, I've said to someone, certain people had asked me, you know, maybe they're growing a mustache. What do you think about it? I say, well, frankly, I think it looks rotten, but I'm talking now as a private individual, not as an elder. Do you want to have your mustache? Do you wear your mustache? I'm talking not as an

33:22 - 33:39 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Pastors are that to a church which the executive powers or magistrates of a free country are to the people at large. They are the organs of the law. Submission to them is submission to the law.

Martin quotes Andrew Fuller, who compares pastors to executive powers in a free country, acting as 'organs of the law' (Christ's law), and stating that submission to them is submission to the law, but they are to be opposed if they teach contrary to Christ's law.

A visionary in the right sense who shared with the great work of Kerry. Fuller says, pastors are that to a church which the executive powers or magistrates of a free country are to the people at large. They are the organs of the law. Submission to them is submission to the law. If

35:00 - 35:19 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Pastors are that to a church which the executive powers or magistrates of a free country are to the people at large. They are the organs of the law. Submission to them is submission to the law.

The account of Paul withstanding Peter to his face is used to show that even an apostle is to be opposed if he walks contrary to the rule of Christ.

the rule of Christ, Paul said, I withstood him to the face, for he was to be blamed. And he says, you're walking contrary to the law of the gospel. Now, that is not giving an open door to say, well, I have a value judgment that differs from you, and my opinion is, wait a minute now, wait a minute. Value judgments are one thing. Violation of clear precepts, quite another.

35:38 - 36:01 Read in full sermon

The point: Once a leader is in office, there is no option not to submit, unless on matters that clearly violate God's explicit law.

He revisits the energy crisis example, arguing that even if one doubts its reality, submission to government regulations (like alternate-day tank filling) is a duty to God, not a matter of private judgment.

It's not a matter of private judgment. This whole so-called energy crisis. Well, I don't believe there is a real...

39:22 - 39:29 Read in full sermon

The point: Shut your mouth, get down before God, and ask Him to deal with any clenched fist of rebellion in your heart.

Martin reminds listeners that Paul commanded honor to the king even when the king was not Christian, emphasizing that submission to authority is a divine ordinance regardless of the ruler's character.

There was no beautifully Christian-motivated government that existed when Paul said, the powers that be are ordained of God, and whosoever resists them resists the ordinance of God. When he said, honor the king, he was no Christian king having devotions every morning with all of his court.

40:08 - 40:22 Read in full sermon

The point: If elders give clear scriptural justification for an action, be still; if they leap the boundaries of scripture, speak graciously, kindly, firmly, and scripturally.

He alludes to the book of Numbers to illustrate God's severe judgment on rebellion against constituted authority, even when veiled in pious garb.

We're going to show how God regards rebellion against constituted authority and how most times that rebellion is veiled under very pious garb. I've been reading through the book of Numbers.

41:18 - 41:28 Read in full sermon

The point: Leaders must have a burning concern to watch for the souls of those under them, or they are hirelings.

The word 'watch' (for souls) is illustrated by a soldier keeping a vigilant vigil near enemy lines, conscious that the lives of sleeping comrades depend on his keenness to perceive danger.

And any man who's in that place who does not have is his burning concern to watch for the souls of those under him. He's a hireling and has no business being in that place. This word watch is a military term. It's an agrarian.

42:40 - 42:57 Read in full sermon

The point: Leaders must have a burning concern to watch for the souls of those under them, or they are hirelings.

The watching of an elder is compared to a shepherd scanning the horizon for wolves while his flock rests, illustrating constant vigilance against spiritual dangers.

The Apostle Paul tells us in Acts 20, After my departure, wolves are going to come in. Think of the shepherd who sees his flock of sheep all sitting down quietly, quietly resting, or drinking by waters of quietness. He can't afford to relax his vigil. But his eyes scan the horizon of the plains or the hills where he cares for his sheep to look for the first intrusion of something that would come and plunder the sheep and consume the lands.

43:48 - 44:19 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The motivation for this rule is the good of its subjects, as leaders 'watch for your souls' like vigilant soldiers or shepherds, an expression of Christ's grace to preserve His…

The parable of the lost sheep is used to illustrate the danger and death faced by a Christian who wanders from the flock and the shepherd's protection, or resents that protection.

The sheep that wanders from the flock and away from the sphere of the shepherd's protection is a sheep who is courting danger and death.

44:46 - 44:57 Read in full sermon

The point: Elders, pastors, and preachers should not constantly fleece the flock or beg for money, but feed the bread of life.

Martin quotes John Brown on the elders' work of watching for souls, contrasting their benevolent care with Satan and the world watching against believers.

And now notice these next words. So true, so true. Others are watching against you. But they are watching for you.

46:05 - 46:12 Read in full sermon

The point: Elders, pastors, and preachers should not constantly fleece the flock or beg for money, but feed the bread of life.

An extended analogy of sheep forming a caucus to declare themselves 'grown up' and exempt from the shepherd's care illustrates the foolishness and pride of insubordination to godly elders.

And we'll take care of the bread that's needed to operate the business. They watch for your souls. The motivation of that rule is the good of its subject. What would you think of three or four little sheep who one day formed a little caucus and said to themselves, Well, you know, we're getting kind of tired seeing those guys around here all the time with the crook and the staff.

47:36 - 48:04 Read in full sermon

The point: If you have a spirit of resentment or insubordination towards constituted oversight, recognize that you most desperately need that oversight.

The relationship between children and firm but loving parents is used to illustrate that often, when one most needs loving authority, one least wants it, applying this to the church context.

I hope you see it. It's like children, to change the figure, who have firm but loving parents. Listen, when you most need them to exercise their loving authority is generally when you least want them. When you most need them is when you least want them.

50:31 - 50:58 Read in full sermon

The point: If you have a spirit of resentment or insubordination towards constituted oversight, recognize that you most desperately need that oversight.

Martin shares a personal anecdote from his youth, thanking God for parents who enforced curfews, which humanly speaking, kept him from becoming a 'common reprobate,' illustrating the need for boundaries when least desired.

When you most need them is when you least want them. enough to drive the car. I need to be told when, at such and such a time or else. I thank God for mothers and dads who did.

50:58 - 51:17 Read in full sermon