Return to Biblical Churchmanship

In this part of the sermon: The first major heading argues for a biblically based conviction concerning the centrality of the church. Martin expounds Ephesians 3:6-11, showing that the church is the means…

Martin asks if the church is an institution that 'like Topsy just growed,' implying it is not a random development but has a divine origin and purpose.

Is this noble institution something which like Topsy just growed?

10:52 - 11:01 Read in full sermon

The point: Conformity to the word of God with respect to standards of membership in the church.

Martin uses the analogy of a construction worker needing a blueprint to build a house, arguing that God, as the builder of His church, would surely provide clear instructions for its structure and function, implying the Bible contains these 'blueprints.'

And I tell you, I'd quit the ministry tomorrow and I'd go into construction work where at least the contractor had the decency to give me a blueprint so I'd know how to go about where to lay my bricks and cut my tuba floors. How long to cut them and where to put them. And will you say that a builder of an earthly house is more concerned for his dwelling than God for his? Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.

62:26 - 62:54 Read in full sermon

The point: Conformity to the Word of God with respect to the worship of the church.

Martin uses the blunt phrase 'God doesn't give a hoot about what you think' regarding worship preferences, emphasizing that God's revealed will, not human aesthetics or comfort, dictates acceptable worship.

The acceptable way of worshiping the true God is instituted by Himself and so limited by His own revealed will that He may not be worshiped. According to the imaginations and devices of men. Well I think it would add to the worship if we my friends God doesn't give a hoot about what you think. He owes what pleases Him.

64:33 - 65:04 Read in full sermon

The point: Conformity to the Word of God with respect to the worship of the church.

Martin uses the example of Paul's instructions to the Corinthian church regarding the number and order of prophets speaking (1 Cor 14) to illustrate that specific, 'mechanical' directives are binding 'commandments of the Lord,' not optional suggestions.

You mean, Paul if we don't implement these directives that are precise and mathematical and categorical we're defying the Lord? He says yes in the name of speaking the word of the Lord you defy the word of the Lord if you have four prophets speak I said the most three you can count can't you, Corinth? one, two, three uno, dos, tres, cuatro eh? start at tres oh, I'm so full of the spirit I gotta speak commandment of the Lord says keep your mouth shut the spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets

66:41 - 67:25 Read in full sermon

The point: Conformity to the word of God with respect to the name number gender functions and standards for church officers.

Martin recounts a personal story of being excited by the clear biblical standards for elders in 1 Timothy 3, only to be told by a brother that these were 'noble ideals' and one must 'be realistic.' This illustrates the pragmatic compromise often made regarding biblical qualifications for church officers.

twenty two years ago twenty three years ago when we were teaching on the biblical standard and name and number and gender of church officers I went to some friends and I said isn't this marvelous it was like I was discovering the wheel I said look we don't need to be at the whims of who's a nice guy and who's got personal charisma the bible's got a standard and I remember the first time I studied in the Greek first Timothy three the bishop they must be I said here it is Lord standard and I was so excited I went to this brother and I said brother look he said oh well just take it easy you mustn...

69:35 - 70:20 Read in full sermon

The point: Conformity to the word of God with respect to the name number gender functions and standards for church officers.

Martin quotes Breckenridge on the clarity of biblical qualifications for church officers (1 Tim 3, Titus 1) as the 'divine standard of judgment,' reinforcing the argument against ignoring these standards.

what a denigration of the sanctifying power of Christ that he cannot make men meet his own standard by his own grace there will be no return to biblical churchmanship until we're ready to labor in our own assemblies in dependence upon the Holy Ghost with respect to the name number, gender, functions and standards for church officers Breckenridge in some unpublished material that one of the men I referred to it earlier dug out the rare book section

71:04 - 71:48 Read in full sermon

The point: Conformity to the word of God with respect to the specific areas of the church's tasks functions and ministries.

Martin cites historical evidence that Roman children were not protected at birth until picked up by the father, noting the rampant evil of infanticide in the apostolic age. This serves as an example of a pervasive social evil that the apostles did not organize the church to directly confront, supporting the argument that the church's agenda is set by Christ, not by social issues.

has Jesus told the church to organize and confront specific social evils by a standard of selectivity determined by men no the evils of abortion and the killing of children were far more rife in the age of the apostles ministry than it is even today one of our brethren has dug out very reliable sources that a Roman child was not considered worthy of being protected even at birth not until the child having been placed

73:57 - 74:41 Read in full sermon

The point: Conformity to the word of God with respect to the specific areas of the church's tasks functions and ministries.

Martin refers to Thornwell's argument that the church 'can do all Christ has called her to do if she will wait upon Christ for the gifts and the manpower and the grace and the substance to do it,' countering the idea that the church needs to adopt extra-biblical methods or tasks.

volume 4 read that section where Thornwell debates the issue can the church do all Christ has called her to do if she will wait upon Christ for the gifts and the manpower and the grace and the substance to do it and Thornwell's intransigent answer against all the sophistry of Hodge was the church can do all she is called to do if it is the will of her lord to do it and then finally if we're serious about this matter

76:09 - 76:52 Read in full sermon

The point: Conformity to the word of God with respect to the church's resources weapons and methods of accomplishing her God given tasks.

Martin uses the metaphor of 'clunking around in Saul's armor' versus 'God's Davids' using 'God's weapons' to illustrate the futility of relying on carnal methods instead of the spiritual weapons God has provided for the church's warfare.

no printing press her weapons were mighty through God oh dear people are we simple enough to believe that those weapons are still mighty how will we know if we clunk around in Saul's armor and never go forth as an army of God's Davids to be laughed at by the Goliaths of this world who if in the name of the God of Israel meet God's Davids with God's weapons will find their heads severed from their shoulders

78:21 - 79:00 Read in full sermon

The point: You come to that Bible based conviction concerning the centrality and uniqueness of the church and the purpose of God come to a deep commitment by the grace of God to serve the church in which you labor to the end that t…

Martin quotes Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones on the 'fear of consequences' and the 'universal rule' that functioning in the church in New Testament terms 'may involve suffering,' preparing the audience for the cost of biblical churchmanship.

this side of heaven you've put yourself in the way of suffering listen to Lloyd Jones and this is my final word I let the one who being dead now speaks through the printed page I must mention one factor which affects our thinking because I think it may be a potent one namely the fear of consequences we're we have got to face this men who have tried to conceive of the church and to function in the church in New Testament terms have generally had to pay for it and have had

79:45 - 80:30 Read in full sermon