Ephesians 5:21-27 

    When the Bible uses the word church it always means a local visible congregation. It certainly doesn’t mean an invisible universal organization. A true church is a local visible body of scripturally baptized believers covenanted together under the fellowship of the New Testament. Ephesians 5:27 uses the adjective “glorious” to describe the church in her final state. In spite of their faults, New Testament churches are the most glorious institutions in existence for many different reasons

    True New Testament Churches are more “glorious” than the family institution, more glorious than fraternal institutions, more glorious than educational institutions, more glorious than governmental institutions, and even more glorious than the family of God.

    There is a vast difference in a church and in the family of God. The family of God is universal. Galatians 3:26 “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” The family of God includes all the saved of all the ages and it will include those who place their faith in Jesus in the future.

    But the church is an extra special entity that is said to be “glorious”. The word “glorious” means to be highly praised. It also means wonderful and splendid. The church institution is wonderful and splendid therefore she should be highly praised and highly respected by all those who claim to be children of God. Jesus always worked closely with His church during His personal ministry. It seems that He was with His church most of the time. Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it...

    The church is the only medium through which God gets glory in the present age; as well as in the coming ages. Ephesians 3:27 “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” This verse does not say unto him be glory in the home, or to him be glory out in nature, or to him be glory in a man made religious organization, or unto him be glory in a lodge. It doesn’t say unto him be glory in the convention nor in the domination nor in the Gideons, nor in the Child Evangelism organization, nor in the singing convention. But the inspired Word of God says, “UNTO HIM BE GLORY IN THE CHURCH.” When Jesus said, “I am the way.” that eliminated all other ways. When the Bible says, “Unto him be glory in the church…” that eliminates all other organizations.

I. THE CHURCH IS “GLORIOUS” BECAUSE OF HER ORGIN!

    Contrary to popular opinion the church did not originate on the day of Pentecost. Pentecost was a great day in church history but the church had already been in existence over three years.

    The church has an heavenly origin. Ephesians 3:10,11 “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:” The church was a big part of God’s eternal plan; if not the main part of it. Therefore the true church originated in the heart and the mind of an all knowing and all loving God before time ever begin. The church is an eternal institution which originated in the counsel halls of eternity and was projected into time when Jesus begin to call out his first disciples and assemble them. Matthew 4:18,19 “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

    God planned Baptists. God planned His church and He planned on getting glory from her through Christ forever. Here Jesus is placing some of the very first members in His church. Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Jesus now has two gathered with Him, therefore He NOW has the very first church!

II. THE CHURCH IS “GLORIOUS” BECAUSE OF HER HEAD! Ephesians 5:23

“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.”

    Contrary to popular opinion Peter is not the head of the church. He never has been and he never will be. I really do not like using the words organization or institution when referring to the church. The church is not an institution but she is a living organism. She is the living body of Christ here on earth.

    Since Christ is the head of the church she is to be subject to none other besides Him. The church is to follow her written guide lines which are found in the New Testament.

     Matthew 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. The most useless thing is a little Baptist dictator. He is a person without a position. Matthew 20:25 “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.” Church runners need to quite trying to run the church and let Christ do it; for He is the only one qualified. He earned the right to be her head by dying on the cross for her. Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it...” From the divine side, the church is a monarchy with Christ as her Lord and head. From an earthly standpoint she is a pure democracy.

III. THE CHURCH IS “GLORIOUS” BECAUSE OF HER TASK! 

Matthew 28:19,20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

     Contrary to popular opinion it is not the church’s job to straighten out the world. It is not the church’s job to feed the world. Her God given task is to evangelize, to baptize the saved, to teach them to obey all of the Bible, and to continue doing it until Jesus comes.

IV. THE CHURCH IS “GLORIOUS” BECAUSE OF HER POSITION! Matthew 16:19 “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

     Contrary to popular opinion the church is not the highest authority in the universe. Jesus Christ is the highest authority in the universe for He is seated in the heavenlies at the Father’s right hand. Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” There is something bad wrong when a Baptist teaches church authority along beside teaching that the church is the bride of Christ. If the church is the bride of Christ (and she certainly is) then Christ, not the bride, is in the authoritative position.

     But you say that the church has the keys to the kingdom of heaven and that gives her authority. Matthew 16:19 “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Keys will only unlock or lock certain things. My car key will not unlock your car door. The keys to the kingdom will only lock or unlock the things that God has authorized them to lock or unlock. Keys limit you to the use of only certain things. The keys to the kingdom will only lock or unlock the things that the Lord has authorized the church to lock or unlock.

    When my parents handed me the keys to the family car that did not give me authority over the family car it gave me responsibility. Those keys did not give the authority to be reckless or to go anywhere I wanted to go. I was to go only where they told me I could go. The same thing is true with a New Testament church. She is responsible to the Lord and she can only do the things that she has been instructed to do. She is limited to what she does by the Word of God

    Once I was the lead man on a job. The foreman told me, “You don’t have the authority to fire anyone. But if you need to fire someone do it and I will back you up.” Jesus said do what I tell you and I will back you up. “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” He is saying as long as you continue to evangelize the lost, baptize the saved, and teach them my Word I will back you up. In others words I will back you up as you do what I tell you to do! 

V. THE CHURCH IS “GLORIOUS” BECAUSE OF HER ENDURANCE AND DESTINY! 

Matthew 16:18 “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.”

    Contrary to popular opinion the church is not a dying institution nor is she out of date. Eternal things have no end! In Matthew 16:18 the word hell means hades or the grave. Jesus is saying that His church would not die out. Many churches have come and gone during the last two thousand years but there are still many true churches doing business for the Lord and there will be churches on earth when Jesus comes again.

    The church is destined to eternal glory. Revelation 21:9 “And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” Ephesians 3:27 “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” The Lord has always had great plans for His church and time has not changed His plans and neither will eternity change His plans for His “glorious” church. Ephesians 5:26,27 “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” I am not a hardshell nor a Calvinist. But in view of Bible truth all honest theologians will have to agree with this-GOD PREDESTINED AND FOREORDAINED HIS CHURCH TO ETERNAL GLORY BEFORE TIME BEGIN!!!!!!! No doubt about it.