God's Organism or Man's Organizations?
The sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing the body of Christ as a living organism, not a mere human organization, and the need for unity under the headship of Christ.
H.J. Vine preaches about the unity of believers in Christ as one body, emphasizing the essential role of the Holy Spirit in uniting all believers into a living organism under Christ as the Head of the assembly. This unity is not merely organizational but a vital organism of indefectible members, all moved by the same Spirit. The passage from Ephesians 4:16 highlights how each member, connected by the Spirit, contributes to the growth and self-building of the body in love, ultimately working towards the increase of the body.
Text
"There is one body and one Spirit" (Ephesians 4:4).
There is one living organism, so constituted by the one Holy Spirit of God, who indwells the members of that vital system. It is the one body which is inclusive of every true believer in Christ, the living Head of the assembly. It is not a mere organization: it is a vital organism. Reputable or disreputable religionists may be held together by strong organizers, or by an agreed upon organization: that, however, of which we speak is a vital system, an organism of living indefectible members, moved by one Spirit; and the glorious Head is Christ Himself,
"from whom the whole body, fitted together, and connected by every joint of supply, according to the working in its measure of each one part, works for itself the increase of the body to its self-building up in love" (Eph. 4:16, N.Tr.). How encouraging and assuring is this unalterable truth to the true heart which holds fast to the one Head of the assembly. What a travesty of the truth--nay, what offensive unfaithfulness is seen in the petty parties, or larger religious organizations, formed by men at variance with the revealed mind of God.
Sermon Outline
- The Nature of the Body of Christ
- The Head of the Assembly
- The Importance of Unity
- Encouragement and assurance for true believers
- A travesty of the truth in man-made organizations
- Indwelling the members of the assembly
Key Quotes
“There is one body and one Spirit” — H.J. Vine
“from whom the whole body, fitted together, and connected by every joint of supply, according to the working in its measure of each one part, works for itself the increase of the body to its self-building up in love” — H.J. Vine
Application Points
- Recognize the body of Christ as a living organism, not a mere human organization.
- Seek to understand and submit to the headship of Christ in the assembly.
- Strive for unity and cooperation with other believers, rather than forming petty parties or larger religious organizations.