Integrity : the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished:
It is unfortunate in my opinion, that I have to present a case supporting the importance of Church integrity. However this is the situation, because of ongoing tolerance of sin and complacency in the church. The greater evil is that we would say nothing about our condition. The entire objective of the church is to be one with Christ. From the time we enter the Kingdom of GOD through the new birth our focus is to grow up in Christ.
Eph 4:15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
Eph 4:16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Growing up in Christ is phase 2 of the salvation experience. In order to grow up we first have to be born, that is phase 1, the new birth experience.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
We are not talking about a physical birth as explained in the above scripture, this is a spiritual birth.
When the new birth is realized we enter into a new kingdom as new born babies. From this point there is a growing up process. A babies primary nourishment is milk, for the born again child of GOD his milk is the Word of GOD.
Col 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
1 Pet 2:2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
I wrote these things to establish a foundation for the rest of this lesson. I can not presume even the fundamental principals of Christianity are fully understood by the reader.
Jesus Christ is without sin and Jesus Christ is the head of the Church. The Church is rightfully called the Body of Christ. And since the head is holy, so must the body be holy. If the head is without sin, so must the rest of the body be without sin. This is why I chose to use the word "Integrity", because it defines what must be obtained in Christ Body, it defines wholeness.
When we willfully sin it is an indicator that we are not saved, willful sin is done by sinners. Because of the new birth Christians are no longer sinners the old sin nature is dead.
Rom 6:11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
When a Christian sins it is against his nature.
1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
This is my premise for the case of integrity. Most of us do not see a church of integrity today.
We face two major problems , the first problems surrounds the issue of doctrine and the second problems surrounds the issue of behavior.
Gal 5:9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.
If you except false doctrine in your heart, it works like yeast, soon error will spread into every area in your heart.
There are so many preachers out here today we must constantly be on guard regarding what we are being taught by all these people. And the only why we can protect ourselves is by knowing the Word of God for ourselves. Yes this requires effort on our part. But you should have a hunger for the the Bible, it is your spiritual food and your spirit desires to be fed. Sin will take away your desire to read, be mindful of that cause if you have trouble reading and or understanding the Bible.
There is another major component required for us to recognize sound doctrine; and that would be following the lead of the Holy Spirit when you study the Bible. The Holy Spirit is your instructor.
John 14:26 But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you
God does use men to teach as as well;
Eph 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
Eph 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
but that does not excuse us of our role to verify anything we here as being true or false. There are so many voices we must be mindful of who we listen to, please weigh what you hear against scripture.
Acts 17:11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
Often the Holy Spirit will alert you to false teaching. Do not ignore the Holy Spirit's prompting in your heart.
Once the Word is in our heart then we will know how to behave in accordance with the Christian lifestyle.
We can further describe behavior as our fruit.
Matt 3:8 Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance [let your lives prove your change of heart];
Repentance is a prerequisite to salvation. If we never repent there is no salvation. And moving forward after salvation is obtained this behavior becomes our foundation for all our actions.
There we have it, the elements that represent integrity in the Body of Christ. We are a Holy people, set apart from the world.
2 Cor 6:17 So, come out from among [unbelievers], and separate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not [any] unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor, [Isa. 52:11.]
2 Cor 6:18 And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
And we shall be known by our fruit (behavior). I remember hearing Christians say how when they get to heaven they are going to put on their robe and tell their story. The truth is if you are not wearing a robe here in the earth then you will not be wearing a robe in heaven. The robe represents the righteous acts of the saints, it represents our behavior right here on earth.
Rev 19:8 She has been permitted to dress in fine (radiant) linen, dazzling and white--for the fine linen is (signifies, represents) the righteousness (the upright, just, and godly living, deeds, and conduct, and right standing with God) of the saints (God's holy people).
Sincerely
Ormond
