Christian Stewardship: Divine Ownership
Christian Stewardship: Divine Ownership CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP
Theme:Divine Ownership
By Harvey Scott
It is a distinct pleasure and honor that I have this opportunity to begin this, the twenty-first lectureship of Abilene Christian College. On behalf, therefore, of the College and of all the churches of Christ in Abilene, let me extend to you good people who are here as our guests our most hearty welcome. We are glad that you are here and that others will be here by tomorrow night. It has been the purpose of those in charge of this program to arrange a series of lectures that will accomplish the most good for the cause of our l ord. How well these plans succeed will depend largely upon those of us who bring to you these messages from time to time. Let us pray that each service will be conducted in a way pleasing unto our heavenly Father and then it will be profitable unto all tnose who are trying to please In.m. Again let me say that we are glad that you are here and that we hope that your stay will be both pleasant and profitable. But to our lesson for this morning on this important theme of “Divine Ownership in Christian Stewardship.”
Christian Stewardship is as much a part of the gospel of our Lord as faith, repentance, and baptism, though the theme is seldom stressed from our pulp’ts. and the thought of it occupies too small a place in our meditations. We talk of the necessity of being baptized for the remission of sins that one may be a Christian, but seldom emphasize the importance of Christian Stewardship in the life that one is to live. Too often we leave him to work out his own salvation with fear and trembling without guiding him into that wholesome and sacred realization of “Divine Ownership.” The individual is now to be taught that he has been born into the family of God and by this process is no longer his own but has been bought with the price of the blood of Christ.
Paul commends the saints of Macedonia for their liberality in the collection for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem and then says the reason for their liberality was found in the fact that they “first gave their own selves to the Lord” (2 Corinthians 8:5). This was done in the complete surrender of obedience to the gospel of Christ when they became Christians. This giving of themselves to the Lord preceded their great liberality which abounded from their deep poverty. They belonged to the Lord, and what they had was to be used in the Lord’s cause. Since the Lord’s people were suffering they were more than ready to send relief to them. Paul says this was based upon a willingness on their own part—they did not have to be urged to do it. When Christians realize the fact that they are not their own but have been bought with a price—that they are the Lord’s own possession—they will not have to be begged to attend the house of worship on Lord’s day or to give of their means to the support of the gospel. They will seek opportunities to worship God, and ask for the privilege of having a part in the work of the church even to the relief of the poor among the saints. They will be glad when they say, “let us go up to the house of the Lord.” They will not “forsake the assembling of themselves together as the manner of some is, but will exhort one another so much the more as they see the day approaching.” They will “study to shew themselves approved unto God, workmen that need not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.” They will “abhor that which is evil, and cleave to that which is good.” They will shun the very appearance of evil, and walk in the steps of Jesus who left us an example that we should follow him. But we have been talking to you about the results of “Divine Ownership”—what the Christian will do when he realizes that he belongs to the Lord and not to himself. But I want to show you from the teaching of God’s word that “Divine Ownership” is taught in the Bible and that we do belong to Jehovah. If I can do this I will then have convinced you that all that you are and all that you are capable of being; all that you have and all that you are capable of having legitimately belongs to the Lord and should be used in his cause to its advancement; this all to be done on our part as Christian stewards. To that task I now invite your attention.
A. The Saints have been bought. In writing to the church of God in Corinth, Paul is teaching them of the sinfulness of using their bodies for the gratification of the lust of the flesh when he says: “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20).
Here it is definitely emphasized that the saints in Corinth could not use their bodies in a way that would be a dishonor to God for they did not belong to them. Their bodies and spirits belonged to God for they had been bought with a price. If the bodies and spirits of the members of the church of God in Corinth belonged to God by virtue of the fact that they had been bought with a price, then can it not be rightfully concluded that the bodies and spirits of the members of the church of God today belong to him for they had been bought with a price? If so, then we can truthfully say that the doctrine of “Divine Ownership” is part of Christianity, and we are not our own, for we have been bought with a price.
B. The church was purchased with the blood of Christ. In recording the conversation between Paul and the elders of the church in Ephesus as they met in Miletus, Luke gives to us the following information:
“Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). In this admonition of Paul to this eldership from Ephesus, he emphasized the fact that the church over which they had been made bishops had been purchased with the blood of Christ. The divine ownership of the church is the divine ownership of the members com-posing the church. Since the church at Ephesus including its eldership belonged to the Lord, then the church of our Lord today including its eldership belongs to the Lord. If the church of Christ today is identical with the church of our Lord in the days of the apostles, and we are members of that church, then it logically follows that we as individual members of the church belong to the Lord for'the Lord purchased us with his own blood. This being true— and who will say that it is not—“Divine Ownership” is New Testament doctrine and is a part of Christianity ; and, we today, do not belong to ourselves to labor and sacrifice for our own selfish motives, for we are members of that religious body which was purchased by our Lord.
C. Reconciliation is in the one body—the body of Christ. In Colossians 1:19-21, we read: “For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell; and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, whether things on earth, or things in the heavens.” And in Ephesians 2:13-22, we read: “But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace; and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and he came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh: for through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father. So that ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone; in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.” In writing to these same Ephesians Paul says that the gospel “which in other generations was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to wit, that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Ephesians 3:5-6). In these readings we have the following:
1. God arranged for all the fulness to dwell in Christ.
2. It is through Christ that all things are reconciled unto God.
3. This reconciliation takes place in the one body.
4. This breaks down the distinction between Jew and Gentile.
5. Jews and Gentiles are fellow-heirs.
6. Jews and Gentiles are fellow'-members of the one body.
7. Jews and Gentiles are fellow-partakers of his promise in Christ.
8. They are no more strangers and sojourners but fellow-citizens
with the saints, and of the house-hold of God.
9. They have been fitly framed together into a holy temple in the Lord.
10. This is all made known through the gospel.
These ten things definitely teach us that all—Jews and Gentiles—who have been reconciled unto God are in the one body and are fellow-heirs, fellow-members of the same body, fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, and fellow-partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. It therefore logically follows that all who have been reconciled unto God are in the one body which the Lord purchased with his blood; and are, therefore, not their own for they have been bought with a price. “Divine Ownership,” therefore, is taught in the New Testament and is a part of Christianity and should be so recognized by all the people of God.
D. Christ is head of the body. In Colossians 1:18, we read: “And he is head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first born from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” And in Ephesians Paul told these saints that God “raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:20-23). In writing to the church of God in Corinth, Paul is teaching the saints the importance of the unity of the local congregation by saying: “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For in one Spirit were wre all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free, and were all made to drink of one Spirit . . . Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof” (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). In these passages of scripture we have the following:
1. The church of our Lord is called a body.
2. This body is the body of Christ.
3. Christ is the head of this body.
4. There is only one body.
5. We are all baptized into that one body.
6. As head of this body Christ is seated at God’s right hand.
7. He is above all rule, authority, power and domin-ion.
8. He has been given a name that is above every name,
not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.
9. All things have been put in subjection unto him.
10. The saints in Corinth (the church of God) are called the body of Christ. The inevitable conclusion, therefore, is that the saints who constitute the body of Christ were baptized into that body. They are governed by him “whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all things” (Acts 3:21). Since the saints constitute his body, the body of Christ, they belong to him, for they have been “bought with a price.” Therefore, “Divine Ownership” is taught in the New Testament; is a part of Christianity and should be so recognized by all the redeemed of the Lord. As the Lord’s own possession, we have been redeemed to serve. But we serve through service to humanity. Therefore, let us do good unto all men, especially unto those who are of the household of faith.
E. Christ gave himself for the church.
Unto the saints at Ephesus Paul writes: “Wives be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being- himself the savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:22-27).
We learn the following from this passage:
1. Christ is the head of the church.
2. He is the savior of the body.
3. The church is subject to Christ.
4. Christ loved the church.
5. He gave himself for it.
6. He died for the church that he might sanctify it.
7. He cleansed it by the washing of water with the word.
8. He did this that he might present the church unto himself as a glorious church.
9. He does not want it to have any spot or wrinkle, but like a fresh laundered garment.
10. He wants it to be holy and without blemish.
We rrtust conclude that the saints were considered by our Lord of sufficient value that he was willing to purchase us with his blood that was shed in his sacrifice upon calvary, and having cleansed us “by the washing of water with the word,” we might be presented unto him as a glorious church. He loved us— he still loves us—and he does not want us to be defiled with sin. The Lord is proud of his church, and we should see to it that we do not defile our garments that we may walk with him in white because we are worthy; for we do not want him to hate “even our garments spotted by the flesh.”
“And one of the elders answered saying unto me, these that are arrayed in the white robes, who are they, and whence came they? And I say unto him, My Lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God; and they serve him day and night in his temple : and he that sitteth on the throne shall spread his tabernacle over them. They shall hunger no more, neither shall they thirst any more; neither shall the sun strike upon them, nor any heat: for the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them unto fountains of waters of life: and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:13-17).
What a consolation! What a blessed hope! What an anchor to the soul! Who but God could make this promise ? Who but those “who had washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” could enjoy such bliss “unspeakable and full of glory” reserved in heaven for the faithful stewards?
F. The Results.
“Christian Stewardship?” Yes. “Divine Ownership?” A thousand times yes. When you and I fully realize this “Divine Ownership,” we will let our light shine before men as we continue to live with that enthusiasm and interest that God has for man today. We will be “rooted and built up in him” as we build upon Jesus the Christ as the chief corner stone. We can then truthfully sing that song, “How firm a foundation, Ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith, in his excellent word. What more can he say than to you he hath said, you who unto Jesus for refuge have fled.” With Christ as our foundation upon which we build our Christian character, we shall be able to “let the lower lights be burning,” and can “send a gleam across the wave”; for “some poor fainting, struggling seaman you may rescue, you may save.” There are “eager eyes watching, longing, for the lights along the shore,” and who may never see a gleam from the haven of rest save as they see the light for the soul as it is shining through us in our daily conduct among the children of men as we attempt to live the kind of life Jesus has taught us to live.
We shall then live unto God, yielding ourselves unto God as those alive from the dead; being spiritually minded, we shall present our bodies a living sacrifice unto God. We shall be transformed by the renewing of our minds; and, thinking soberly, we shall cleave unto that which is good. We shall be “kindly affec- tioned one to another; fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” We shall rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and continue instant in prayer. We shall be given to hospitality, and bless them that persecute us. We shall “be of the same mind one toward another,” and “provide things honest in the sight of all men.”
We shall then walk in the footsteps of Jesus; setting our affections on things above; “laying aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us; running with patience the race which is set before us; looking unto Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith.” We shall put off the old man, and crucify the affections and lusts thereof; we shall put aside all malice, guile, envy, evil speaking, hypocricy; and be clothed in love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, gen-erosity, courtesy, good-temper, forbearance, and god-liness. We can, then, for the joy that is set before us, endure our cross, despising the shame, and stand on “Jordan’s stormy banks and cast a wishful eye” towards the “land that is fairer than day.” We can say, “Death, where is thy sting? Grave, where is thy victory?” for “death is only a dream” because “God hath given us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.” And since Jesus burst the bars of the Hadean world and came forth, “bringing light and immortality to light through the gospel,” he shall “quicken our mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in us” when we who are in our graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God and come forth with that new body suited to our new existence in that eternal world, when Jesus “comes to be glorified in his saints.” We shall then stand before the judge of all the earth and hear him say, “Well done, good and faithful one, enter thou into the joys of the Lord”; which place is described unto us at containing a “pure river of water of life, clear as a crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb; and in the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, is the tree of life, which bears twelve manner of fruits, and yields her fruit every month; and there shall be no more curse: But the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall serve him” (Revelation 22:1-3).
Then “Divine Ownership” is true and part of Chris-tianity and should be so recognized by all of us as “Christian Stewards.”