Grace Fellowship Church Pastor/Teacher Jim Rickard Sunday, July 18,

John 15:12-14 Impersonal Love Motivates Divine Good Production!

Keeping the commandments of Jesus Christ means the Bible has authority over our lives. Therefore, the Bible is our authority as the Word of God.

L.S. Chafer, “It reflects the supreme authority of God as actually His revealed will, the Word of Truth is to be obeyed by all who come under His Divine rule.”

The fact that Jesus Christ is commanding us is one more example in the Scriptures, of His authority over the Church.

Synonyms for Christ and His Authority over the Church.

1. Jesus Christ is called the last Adam as the ruler of the Church, and believers are called the new spiritual species. 1 Cor 15:45 ‑ 49; 2 Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15

2. Christ is the Head and the Royal Family of God is the body. Eph 1:22 ‑ 23, 2:16, 4:4 ‑ 5, 5:23; 1 Cor 12; Col 1:17 ‑ 18, 24, 2:19

The body emphasizes our differences in personality and spiritual gifts.

Eph 1:22-23, “And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

Eph 5:23, “For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.”

a) Likewise we see the analogy of the King and the Royal Family of God, Eph 1:22 ‑ 23; Col 2:10.

3. The Shepherd and the sheep analogy is found in John 10; Heb 13:20-21; 1 Peter 5:4.

This analogy connotes the security and great blessings that come to us as members of the Royal Family of God.

Sheep have no sense of direction, cannot fend for themselves, are helpless, and therefore need the guidance, sustenance, and protection of the Shepherd.

The sheep must be guarded and fed by the under- shepherd, the Pastor of the local church.

4. The Vine and the branches. John 15:1 ‑ 6

5. The Chief Cornerstone, and the stones of the building. Mat 16:16 ‑ 18; Eph 2:20; 1 Peter 2:4 ‑ 8, quoting Psa 118:22-23

6. The High Priest and the Royal Priesthood. Heb 2:17; 4:14; 7:25, 10:10 ‑ 14; 1 Peter 2:5, 9; Rev 1:6

7. The Groom and the bride. John 3:29; 2 Cor 11:2; Eph 5:25 ‑ 27; Rev 19:6 ‑ 8

Grace Offering

Grace Fellowship Church Sunday, July 18, 2010 Tape # Impersonal Love Motivates Divine Good Production Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church Upper Room Discourse, Part 395 John 15:13-14; Eph 1:22-23; 5:23; Col 1:17-18; Heb 13:20-21 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2010