The Beautiful Blueprint

Mark Dunagan
05/26/13 - Sunday Morning

The Beautiful Blueprint

From ancient times, mankind has approached the written words of their Creator with varying degrees of respect ranging from disregard to deep reverence. How does a wise man or woman approach the Bible?  As a set of principles just for the people to whom it was originally written? Think again. There are a number of passages that make it clear that what was written to previous generations, even generations centuries ago, applies to us as well.  Consider Romans 15:4 “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction” and 1 Corinthians 10:11 “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction”.  Of course! For of course, it would have made little sense that God would have had a perfect law for previous generations (Psalm 19:7), but nothing for us.

Others would contend that the Bible is a book of purely human wisdom, written by very religious men, but men just the same.  Here too the Bible anticipates another objection that mankind might raise.  The Holy Spirit is  emphatic that what the prophets in the Old Testament spoke was not their own opinion, but rather was entirely the result of being moved by the Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21).  Added to this, no serious student of the prophets would ever think, from what the prophets wrote, that the prophets were giving their own opinions.  Repeatedly, the prophets assertively proclaim, “Thus says the Lord” (Haggai 1:3).  In the New Testament Paul makes the same point, that what he wrote was the word of God and not his opinion (1 Corinthians 14:37; 1 Thessalonians 2:13).

Is the Bible a just another good book that worked for previous generations, but is now out-dated?  Jeremiah opposed such an idea when he exhorted his generation—not to seek the latest thing, but to go back to truth that God had already revealed and not only go back, but live by it (Jeremiah 6:16).  Peter likewise calls the word of God a message which is living and abiding and thus altogether relevant (1 Peter 1:23-25).  Besides, it is clear that “modern man” is still struggling with all the same issues the Bible addresses.  Typically, the only time I hear people arguing that the Bible is out-dated, is when it does not approve the spiritually destructive lifestyle they are determined to live—and no one likes feel guilty.

Is the Bible just a book of folk-wisdom, good ideas, suggestions or hints on how to live?  Absolutely not.  The Bible uses terms which are far beyond mere hints or suggestions.  God speaks of His word as being filled with “statutes”, “commands”, “ordinances”, “laws” and “precepts” (Psalm 19:7-9).   In the New Testament, Jesus speaks of His teaching as being “commands” (John 14:15) which are not optional (Matthew 7:21; John 12:48).   In fact, when I look at how God describes His own message, the language resembles that of language used in describing a blueprint that needs to be precisely followed:

The Language of a Blueprint

• We are repeated warned not to add or subtract from this message (Deut. 4:2; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18-19).
• Any messing with the message alters the results (Galatians 1:6-9).
• It is a book of “instructions” (Exodus 16:18).
• It is a message we are to stay within (2 John 9).

A Definite Pattern

When it came for determining a place to worship, God first had the tabernacle erected, and later, the temple, both of which were to be built according to a divine pattern (Exodus 25:9; 1 Chronicles 28:19), which included everything associated with the building of these structures.  “So what?” some may bark.  We need to remember we are on holy ground. How so? Both the tabernacle and the temple prefigured not only Christ's bride, the church, the very one He purchased with His blood (1 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:21), but also the very throne of God itself (Hebrews 8:2).  In fact, the New Testament actually takes the time to quote the passage that speaks of the tabernacle being built according to a definite pattern (8:5).

Many New Testament Patterns

• What must I do to be saved?

Not only do we have the pattern for salvation laid out at the end of the gospels (Mark 16:15-16), but the book of Acts has repeated examples of souls being saved by God with His divine pattern of: hearing the gospel, believing Jesus is the Son of God, repenting of our sinful lifestyles, confessing Christ as God's Son and thus our only hope, being baptized for the remission of our sins (Acts 2:37-38; 8:12; 8:36-38). Any other pattern is not God's.

• The Organization of the Church

Here the repeated and incredibly wise pattern in Scripture is a plurality of elders in every congregation (Acts 14:23; 20;17), and shepherding only the congregation of which they are actual members.  Thus, no examples of only one elder or bishop shepherding a church and no examples of an eldership or bishops shepherding more than one congregation. How wise!

• The Qualifications of Elders and Deacons

Those who are called elders are also called pastors, overseers and bishops.  The three concepts are used together when referring to this office (Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5-6; 1 Peter 5:1-3). So in this section I will use the terms interchangeably as well.  The pattern here that is only married men who have faithful children serving as elders, bishops or pastors (1 Timothy 3:1-2; Titus 1:6).  This pattern would of course exclude single bishops, or female bishops, pastors or elders.

• A Blueprint for Morals

Repeatedly we encounter sections in the New Testament that list both sinful activities or attitudes (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Ephesians 4:25-5:6; Galatians 5:19-21), and behavior and attitudes that God expects us to develop and practice (2 Peter 1:5-11) to His glory and to our well-being.

• A Blueprint for the Family

This pattern includes both honor, obedience and respect for parents (Ephesians 6:1-2), and the need for parents to bring up their children with God’s instruction and loving discipline when needed (Ephesians 6:4, and many Proverbs).

• The Pattern for Marriage

From the beginning of creation in the book of Genesis the pattern is established that a man is to leave father and mother and cleave to his wife (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6) for life.  Divorce and remarriage is only allowed if one’s mate has been unfaithful (Matthew 19:9).

Other Patterns Include:

• Helping a brother out of sin (Matthew 18:15-17).
• How a congregation can raise funds (1 Corinthians 16:1-3).
• Serving of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
• How a congregation may support a preacher who was preaching in another area, that is, directly (Philippians 4:16). 
• There is also a pattern for how a congregation helped another congregation that was in need (1 Corinthians 16:1).  Once again, the money was only sent when the congregation had more needy members than they could handle and the money was sent directly to that congregation. In doing so He, to a high degree, prevents waste and dishonesty. Again, how wise!

Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.net
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net