The Church

The Church

The Church

2 Corinthians 4:13 – “We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written (Psalm 116:10), I believe, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe and therefore speak…..”

We believe that the Church consists of born again believers under the Headship of Christ. It is the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, the pillar and ground of the Truth and a great mystery.

1 Corinthians 12:12     1 Corinthians 12:13     1 Corinthians 12:27

Jesus said, “…. upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).  He also said, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).  We have to be born again of the incorruptible seed, which is the word of God (John 3:3; 1Peter 1:23).  God, the Holy Ghost, baptizes us and sets us in His Body as it pleases Him (1 Corinthians 12:13; 18-21, 27).  It is abundantly clear from God’s Word that His church is a living organism made up of “lively stones” which He has added.  Jesus is “a living stone” chosen of God and precious.  It is also said of the Lord Jesus that He is “a chief corner stone” and is “the head of the corner” (1 Peter2:4-7). When God raised Jesus from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all and put all things under His feet, He gave Him to be the Head over all things to the church, which is His Body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all (Ephesians 1:20-23; Colossians 1:17-19 ).

The church is also referred to as the house of the living God and the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15).  The scriptures speak about the relationship between Christ and the church as akin to a husband and wife relationship.  The difference being that it is a spiritual relationship as we are members of His flesh and bone.  This was foreshadowed by the statement Adam made after God had put him to sleep and made Eve from one of his ribs and brought her to Adam (Genesis 2:21-24).  We are told in the scriptures that this is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:32).

The apostle Paul states, “I have espoused us to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2).  There is going to be a glorious wedding in the future between Christ and His church as we read in the last book in the bible.  “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.  And he said unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.  And he said unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” (Revelation 19:7-9; Revelation 20:9).

“For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee” (Isaiah 62:5).

As the body of Christ, the church is directed and guided by the ministry gifts that the Lord has given to His body.  As stated earlier, Jesus said “…. upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).