In the sermon, Eric Bechler concludes the exploration of the doctrine of the Church by focusing on the importance of gatherings or assemblies of representatives from like-minded churches to address issues and conflicts. These gatherings, according to the 'mind of Christ' or God's will as revealed in scripture, are meant to offer advice on matters affecting church unity, peace, and edification. The sermon emphasizes the spiritual unity among churches and the necessity of communal prayer and support. It discusses the need for humility and love when addressing differences, highlighting that pride can lead to strife. The sermon references Paul's advice to the Ephesians on maintaining unity and love, and uses the biblical example from Acts 15 where Paul and Barnabas sought counsel from the apostles in Jerusalem regarding the necessity of circumcision for Gentile converts, to underline the importance of seeking wise counsel. The gatherings are advisory, with no authoritative power over individual churches, aligning with Reformed Baptist views, and serve to encourage mutual support and resolution of disputes. The sermon concludes with a call to kindness and forgiveness in line with Christ's teachings.

We will complete our examination of the doctrine of the Church today. This is the last of 15 paragraphs. Last week we were reminded that we must be praying continually for other Christian churches, for their good and their prosperity, and that there is a spiritual unity and fellowship that should exist between churches. Our focus today is on the gathering of representatives of like-minded churches to address difficulties between churches or the handling of issues with a member of a church under questionable disciplinary action that might threaten the peace, love, and mutual edification in the churches. Well let's try to understand this better.

Here is the core of our paragraph today. It is according to the mind of Christ that many churches holding communion together do by their messengers meet to consider and give their advice in or about that matter and difference to be reported to all the churches concerned. Whenever we read in the confession, according to the mind of Christ, this equates to God's will. It equates to what has been revealed in God's word. We could replace that with according to scripture.

What is about to be stated or done is according to the mind of Christ, according to God's word. Last week we spoke of the importance of churches holding communion or fellowship with one another. I presented the metaphor Paul used to stress this point, likening the church to the human body. There are differences and there are many parts, but one body, one body of Christ. We are to pray continually for all the churches of Christ, and we are to exercise our gifts and graces to their benefits.

Our paragraph today calls for a gathering or assembly of messengers from churches holding communion together to consider and give advice on matters of differences. The confession does not specify the number of churches to be involved in sending messengers to such an assembly. It only uses the adjective many. It also is open to interpretation who would be the messengers. They could be the elders, deacons, or just church members, and the confession provides no qualifications or details for these messengers, but one can assume that they would be noted for their wisdom and discernment.

Paul in writing to the Saints in Ephesus about the unity of the body of Christ encourages them to walk worthy of the calling with which you are called with all lowliness and gentleness and long suffering, bearing with one another in love, Ephesians 4, 1, and 2. This is how we should approach differences and difficulties with others, with other Christians, in humility and in love. I think this is hard. I think it's very difficult to be humble and to be long-suffering. I don't know about you but I can tell you that dealing with pride is a constant battle.

It sneaks in when you least expect it. And Solomon tells us what happens with pride. By pride comes nothing but strife. But with the well-advised wisdom, Proverbs 13.10, when we are filled with pride, we think too much of ourselves and think we have it all under control and we have it all figured out. But again Solomon reminds us what we really are in this case.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise. Proverbs 12-15. These Proverbs point us to being well advised to heed counsel which comes from seeking counsel. In dealing with church difficulties or errors whether theological or practical we should seek counsel or advice and we should do all that we can to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, as Paul tells the Ephesians in Ephesians 4.3. Scripture gives us an example in Acts 15, 1-6.

There arose a disagreement as to the necessity for the observance of the laws of Moses for Gentile converts. Some persons from Judea had insisted on the necessity of being circumcised in order to be saved. Paul and Barnabas had opposed them and the dispute had become so warm that it was agreed to seek counsel from the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. For that purpose, Paul and Barnabas had been sent with certain others to lay the case before them. I'll read verses 1 through 6.

And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved. Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders about this question. So being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles, and they caused great joy to all the brethren. And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders and they reported all things that God had done with them. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up saying it is necessary to circumcise them, to command them to keep the law of Moses.

Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. Our paragraph highlights two general circumstances where such an assembly ought or might be needed. First, the cases of difficulties or differences touching on the peace, union, and edification of all churches in general or an individual church. These difficulties or differences could be theological or practical. They can come from pride or self-centeredness, from spiritual or emotional immaturity, from resisting change, from abuses of power, from politics where you have factions against each other, from unclear authority within the church, and even personality differences, and there are probably others as well.

A church may have trouble with a particular doctrine and decide to send elders or other representatives to other churches to seek their advice. Our example we just discussed falls into this category. There could be any number of problems or troubles between two churches that need to be resolved through seeking counsel from other churches, so as to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Other cases may occur when a member or members of a church are injured in or by disciplinary action that is not in keeping with the truth or order. This would be a situation where a member has been disciplined, perhaps unjustly, and perhaps even excommunicated in a way that was not in keeping with the truth or order.

What is their recourse? Well, through our confession, they can go to other churches who they are in fellowship with to seek advice from those elders or others that they would review the circumstances and the evidence and the proceedings and actions. By the pooling of many counselors, it is hoped that the truth may be found and resolution may be obtained. If the elders from another church or churches acknowledge that this was not in keeping with the truth and order, their conclusion is given only as advice and perhaps may call the elders over that member to reconsider what has happened. If those elders agreed with their church's elders, that's the end of it.

In this gathering, there's no authority that these other elders hold over the leaders of that church, but they can give advice and counsel and give their weight and support to the member who had been injured if they agreed. This is the point raised in the final part of our paragraph today that, nevertheless, these assembled messengers are not entrusted with any church authority, strictly speaking. Neither do they have any jurisdiction over the churches themselves to exercise any discipline either over any churches or individuals or to impose their decisions on the churches or its officers. I will say there are disagreements with this part of the confession. There are some who turn to Acts 15 as a warrant for a permanent assembly of elders to sit alongside or over the local churches who are in fellowship together.

This is the position held with the Reformed Presbyterians. The position held by the Reformed Baptists is that these assemblies are temporary and advisory only. They are not an authoritative body over the local churches. They're not to seek to do more, to do those things that are in the mind of Christ is given to the local church. Each local church is subject only to Christ and all are on equal footing.

No one church has jurisdiction over another. We have examples of the apostle Paul giving advice regarding the unmarried and widows. In 1 Corinthians 7.25, Paul writes, Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in his mercy has made trustworthy. Judgment here can also be translated as opinion or advice. Paul also writes in 1 Corinthians 740, yet in my judgment she, a widow, is happier if she remains as she is.

As Christians, we are to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called. We must be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit. The sooner disagreements and differences and difficulties can be addressed within a church or its members or even across churches, the better. And we would all do well to follow Paul's words to the saints of Ephesus, be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 432.

Amen.