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Jesus Christ declared in A. D. 32, ". . .Upon this
rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it [singular]." (Matt. 16:18). Christ is the foundation of
His Church. "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,
which is Jesus Christ." I Cor. 3:11. See Ephesians 2:20-22. During
His earthly ministry Jesus gathered material for His Church, and on
the day of Pentecost in A. D. 33 after His ascension, that body of
believers was sanctified, endued with the witnessing power of the
Holy Spirit and set in operation as the spiritual Body of Christ,
the organic, visible, corporate expression of Christianity.
The Church is invincible, and it is the only institution in this
world that will survive the end of all things. It is of divine
heavenly origin, and it will be consummated when the Lord comes to
take her unto Himself as a "glorious Church, without spot or
wrinkle."
The prominence of the Church in the Scriptures is shown by the fact
that the word "church" or "churches" occurs 111 times in the New
Testament, but the singular and plural forms of the word never refer
to a sect or a denomination. The Church is the whole of the same
faith-not a part of or a cut off portion. The plural form "churches"
refers to the various congregations of the one and same Church which
Jesus built. In a universal sense the Church is biblically defined
to include every redeemed, blood-washed soul-the whole family of God
"in heaven and earth." (Eph. 3:15). It includes all the saved and
excludes all sinners, regardless of their profession. Every member
of the Church universal is potentially a member of any local
congregation of God.
The name of the Church is "The Church of God." The apostle Paul
exhorted the elders of Ephesus: "Take heed therefore unto
yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath
made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath
purchased with his own blood." Acts 20:28. See also I Cor. 1:2;
10:32; 11:22; II Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:13; I Tim. 3:5, 15.
The apostle Paul declared: "I speak concerning Christ and the
church." (Eph. 5:32). The Church is identical with Christ and is the
physical expression of His Spirit in the world. "For we are members
of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a
man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife,
and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I
speak concerning Christ and the church." Eph. 5:30-32. Again we read
that "all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so
also is Christ." I Cor. 12:12.
Christ is the vine and we are the branches (John 15:1-5), and the
same energy and vitality flows from the vine to the branches.
Christ is the head of His body, and we are the members (Eph.
1:22-23; 4:15-16), and the same lifeblood flows through the head and
the members.
Christ is the Bridegroom, and we are His Bride. "They two shall be
one flesh-Christ and the Church." Again the apostle writes: "That ye
should be married to another, even to him [Christ] who is raised
from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." (Rom.
7:4).
Members are inducted into the one body of Christ-the Church-by
obtaining salvation. "And the Lord added to the church daily such as
should be saved." (Acts 2:47). Christ is the door. "I am the door:
by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." (John 10:9).
Members who sin are out of the Church. "And the Lord said unto
Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my
book." (Ex. 32:33).
The members of the Church live without committing sin. "Whosoever
abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him,
neither known him." I John 3:6. See also I John 5:18; Titus 2:11-12;
Luke 1:74-75.
The Church register is kept by the Lord in heaven, called "the book
of life." "The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, that
this man was born there." (Ps. 87:6). See Luke 10:20; Phil. 4:3.
The discipline of the Church is the New Testament. "All scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (II Tim.
3:16).
Listen and heed Christ's loving entreaty to become a member of His
Church: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my
voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with
him, and he with me." Rev. 3:20. "And the Spirit and the bride
[Church] say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him
that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of
life freely. Rev. 22:17.
The Church of God
Church of God, thou spotless virgin,
Church of Christ for whom He died,
Thou hast known no human founder,
Jesus bought thee for His bride.
Sanctified by God the Father,
Built by Jesus Christ, the Son,
Tempered by the Holy Spirit,
Like the Holy Three in One.
God Himself has set the members
In His body all complete,
Organized by Jesus only,
Oh, the union pure and sweet!
Church of God, the angels marvel
At the music of thy song;
Earth and hell in terror tremble,
As thy army moves along.
Church of God, "beloved city,"
Thou art of celestial mold;
Lo! from God and out of heaven,
Came the city of pure gold.
Stones of jasper, clear as crystal
Is the building of thy wall;
And the Lamb, thy light forever,
Jesus, Jesus, all in all.
God's own holiness within thee,
His own beauty on thy brow;
Glorified in His own image,
This thy wondrous portion now.
In thee dwells the Triune fullness,
Blessing all thy pilgrim days;
All around thee His salvation,
And before thee gates of praise.
Church of God, in heaven written;
Thine the risen life of Christ,
And the treasures to thee given,
Never, never can be priced.
Far above this world's confusion,
Walking close by Jesus' side,
Leaning on His loving bosom,
Is the Church, His chosen Bride.
-D. S. Warner |
