God's Church

On this very first Lord’s Day in the shortest month of any given year, we are comforted and full of hope in our Jesus who is not just our life, but our abundant life. He is our Hope, Health and Peace – our fullness in a broken, torn and dark world. We have been acknowledging and publishing all about the sweetness, goodness and almightiness of the unsurpassed Name of Jesus, exalted by God, the Name above all names.

We celebrate, as a Church – collectively and individually – the matchless grace of our Lord, who has chosen to make us part of the Body of God. He has made us, the Church, His Body and He is the Head. He has prophesied, in clear spoken words spoken to Peter, upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16: 18b KJV. The Church, which Jesus has called into being, will certainly be attacked and assailed by wicked, evil ones, but the unconquerable promise of her Head, her Master and Lord is that no evil against her, will prevail.  Jesus has built and continues to build His Church so that she, in the end, will know His commendation and not His condemnation.  

We are also told this in Ephesians 5: 25 – 27. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Indeed! The Church is the Lord’s bride, whom He loves and for whom He has given up Himself. But the Church here below is human and needs to be reminded of her calling in Christ; her status in Christ; her expectation in Christ.

Christ loves the Church – you and I are the Church.

Christ has sacrificed up His life for the Church – you and I are the church.

Christ wants and makes the Church to be holy - you and I are the Church.

Christ cleanses the Church with the washing of water through the word – you and I are the Church.

Christ desires a radiant Church, so He can present her, stain-free, wrinkle-free, and blemish-free. You and I are the Church.

Christ delights in a holy and blameless Church. You and I are the Church.

Where is your Church in this scale of things? Where are you, O bride of Jesus Christ?

I conclude today’s word with these confirming passages of Scripture. They have been brought before us as reminders of who we are in Jesus, strengthening and assuring us of our heritage in Him.  

Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. Acts 20: 28

So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12: 5

If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. 1 Corinthians 3: 17

Where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18: 20

We have no excuses of ignorance, not knowing, or even not being reminded that you and I are a whole body called the Church. This is not just any ordinary Church, but it is Jesus’ Church, which He bought and brought to life.