Dr Sinclair Ferguson – Daily Bible Expositor
A theological affinity with the PCA and a warm relationship with David Jones. Dr Ferguson brought greetings from the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and his home congregation.
Three studies on the church. Not comprehensive, but dealing with central elements.
First, the vision of the Lord Jesus for the Church.
Matthew 16:13ff
Matthew 16 a turning point in Jesus revealing who He is, what He would do, what the character of Christ’s disciples would be and what the nature of the Church would be.
Jesus reply to Peter’s testimony is a rare reference specifically to the church.
But we have many descriptions of the community which Jesus is creating.
1. Jesus builds the church. Peter’s confession and Jesus’ response to it is an indicator that the church is built with living stones. These stones are naturally resistant to this process of inclusion, but Jesus will join them together. Peter, James & John and Judas Iscariot show their resistance to Jesus work of building. Judas to the point of disqualification.
The Church is a community which is nae natural.
Christ transforms us and builds us together.
Solomon’s task was far easier than that of Jesus.
Christ’s stones squeal and squeak with every blow of the chisel which forms and fits.
What is unthinkable in the world comes true, not because we are from the same social categories, but because Christ has brought us together. Not us, elders or people, but Christ. Christ is in all and is all. This thought would revolutionise church life.
2. Disciples are but apprentices in the building processes, but they are apprentices. We identify with Peter, then we should identify ourselves with ongoing apprenticeship. Christ’s identification is not about the papacy or apostolic succession, but it does have something to do with Simon Peter personally. Peter is the first apprentice. Privileged to be an apprentice, humbled to never more than an apprentice.
A great paradox: the privilege to be chosen to be used along with the truth that without Him using us nothing would be achieved.
Jesus is magnificent. That’s why He has placed the keys of the Gospel in our hands.
3. Satan is always the hinderer of the building of the church.
As soon as Jesus speaks Satan brings Peter to take Jesus aside and speak against the truth. This should be seen not as an isolated incident, but as a recurring theme.
(The whole Old Testament a series of footnotes to Genesis 3:15)
Ferguson’s fear is that we see things naturally and not supernaturally, horizontally and not vertically.
Is your first instinct that evil spirits are at work when trouble and strife arise.
When Jesus is held up as Saviour and King all hell literally breaks loose.
Division, intimidation and destruction are Satan’s only tactics. When we see them we should recognise them.
The gates of the city are those places where organisation and strategy occurs.
The power and purpose of Jesus as He builds His kingdom.
Those who are overseers of the flock need to see over the flock, but watch over the flock for the invisible evil hand.
4. The cross is always the basic ground plan for the building of the church.
Take up your cross and follow me.
Death is the way to life and the cross is the way to victory. Until people realise that Jesus is a dying and rising Saviour they will not understand the nature of the community which He builds.
The old pattern of cross-shaped churches. A community moulded into cross shape.
We get diverted from the ground plan. We lose sight of the Lord Jesus Christ. Like Peter we lose sight of the reality that we grow like Him as we share in His sufferings.
We must cease being resistant.
Ferguson does not love much of George McDonald, but does appreciate his fantasy,
quoting one instance: you will never start to live until you die.
Where are you in your ministry. There are no stairs to tip-toe into the pool of His plan, we plunge in all at once, all or nothing.
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