The Church (Part One)

THE CHURCH (Part One)

“My Church” is a statement that we so often hear among Christians when in conversation. While the meaning is well understood among God’s people, it could be misleading to the unknowing. There are a few who, knowing the truth, deny it and try to ‘own’ the building and congregation of worship. They seem to think that they truly are possessor of the establishment of meetings. We all have, from time to time referred to the building and its congregation as “my church” rather than “the group with which I worship.” Spoken with understanding, “my church,” is an acceptable reference to the house of God. However there is a Church to which we Christians all belong. It was a gift to us from Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Matthew 16: 5 “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

“My Church” is the word from the mouth of Jesus and His word is unchallenged! He is the church and He is our savior and we who believe can claim Him as “My Church.” Truly there is no other way to have “The Church” than to buy into Jesus.

Ephesians 1: 9 “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”

Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

He always has been the Church before there was a church on earth. He shed His precious blood to establish Himself as the Church and He began the only denominational organization that God recognizes on earth. It was named in Acts.

Acts 11:26 “And when he had found him (Barnabas), he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

1 Corinthians 12:28 “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”

Colossians 1:18 “”And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence

1 Corinthians 7:17 “But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

1 Corinthians 10:32 “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God (Acts 14:23) “And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. (Acts 14:27) And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

As we know Saul appeared as a mighty persecuter of the Christians. Believing them to be rebels against the Jewish belief, he imprisoned them even and often unto death and torture. Then on the road to Damascus, God gleaned him from the flock of disobedience and planted him squarely into the Christian Church.

Acts 9: 26 “And when Saul (Paul) was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

The rest would not last. Always Christians have suffered persecution. They do now and always will until Jesus comes and collects HIS CHURCH home. Know god, know peace. Amen. 02-27-2020 BLL