The Church

Acts 20:28 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.

Eph. 5:22-32 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.22. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 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.

When we speak of the church, we speak of that which is dearest to the heart of God. The church is a called-out assembly, local and visible, of baptized believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. The church has a place in the economy of God that no other organism or organization has. The church is the only organism on earth that is empowered by a heavenly power. The church is the only institution on earth that is entrusted with the gospel message. It is the only body on earth that is engaged in a divine business.

The church reflects the heart of God, the hand of God, the power of God, the love of God, the Spirit of God, the glory of God, the Word of God, the work of God, the wisdom of God, the might of God, the knowledge of God, and the Son of God.

The church is a reservoir of truth. It is a repository of wisdom. It is a refuge of safety.

The church can never be separated from Christ. The church was created by His breath. The church is redeemed by His blood, and the church is energized by His Spirit.

The church is constituted by Christ, committed to Christ, empowered through Christ, and united in Christ.

If there was no church, there would be no New Testament for the New Testament is a product of the church.

If there were no church, there would be no missions, for the worldwide missionary endeavor is a thrust and an outreach of the church.

If there were no church, there would be no discipline of the believer, for it is the responsibility and the duty of the church to discipline the believer.

If there were no church, there would be no body of Christ, for the church is the body of Christ. This would make void the promise of Christ and render powerless the blood of Christ which we read above in Acts and Ephesians.

Therefore, I am of this persuasion: A man cannot love Christ without loving the church. How can a man love the Head when he doesn’t love the body? A man cannot honor Christ without honoring the church. How can a man honor the Head, when he doesn’t honor the body? A man cannot obey Christ when he does not abide by the teachings and doctrines and the precepts of the church. How can a man obey the Head when he disregards the rules and regulations of the body? I have met people who claim that they love Christ, but have no stock in and no part with the church. That is hard for me to reconcile.

If anyone confronts you with the question: “What is right about the church?” tell him its foundation is right because it is built upon Christ. Tell him its inflammation is right because it is inflamed by the Holy Spirit. Tell him its inspiration is right because it is inspired by the word of God. Tell him that its declaration is right because it declares the whole counsel of God. Tell him its destination is right because it is bound for the glory world. The church is right!