The Church

The Church

“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” Acts 20:28.

Christ is zealous for His church, which He has purchased with His own precious blood. The church is His dearest possession, and it is His desire that it be holy and separate for Him for all eternity. 2 Cor. 6:17; Rev. 18:4; 1 Pet. 2:9.

The spirit of worldliness, lying, and unbelief must be banished from the church of the living God. Christ’s heart must be our heart, and His thoughts our thoughts.

“This is the law of the temple: The whole area surrounding the mountaintop shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the temple.” Ezek. 43:12. This means that it is the law of the church, which is the house of God. Our entire area (within the circle in which we have any authority or responsibility, or have any influence whatsoever) must be a holy area for the Lord. This is the extent of our responsibility for the glory of the church and of Christ. Our influence among our fellow men is not so insignificant, and our life can be a rich blessing for many if we are watchful and true.

God is to be glorified by the church. Eph. 3:21. We are corrupt by nature; therefore if we are not totally devoted to God, we will seek our own glory in all circumstances, before we seek the glory of God.

Just as all of creation is permeated by God’s wise laws and exists for His glory, so shall the church be a testimony to the glory of Christ, and will honor Him by being permeated by Christ’s wise laws and by walking according to them.

The church is God’s greatest work of creation. Everything that God has created is overwhelming and beautiful; nevertheless, the church of the living God will surpass everything else when she—in her glory and radiance—comes down from heaven onto the new earth. Rev. 21.

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Matt. 16:18.

Peter had the right attitude for being a foundation stone in the temple of the new covenant. He loved Jesus more than anything else; his ear was open to the voice of truth so that he could receive an understanding of things that flesh and blood could not comprehend.

Such people become living stones in a spiritual house. They are alive to God’s manifold wisdom and His workings, and they are rocks of offense to all fleshly understanding. They are hated and rejected by the religious builders of the present age just as Jesus was rejected by the builders of earlier times.

The church of the living God is the pillar and foundation of the truth. 1 Tim. 3:15.

Every action that is undertaken in the church of the living God must be in harmony with the Spirit of truth. Regardless of the person, the truth must never “fall in the street,” but it must rather penetrate into everything with its clear light and pass a just judgment over every sin and impurity.

The church must be arrayed in righteousness. Rev. 19:8.

Our works are our garment, and since we are a royal people, we must always be clothed in this noble garment of righteousness.

The church is the assembly of the upright and the congregation of the saints. Ps. 111:1 and Ps. 149:1. This is the opposite of the counsel of the ungodly and the seat of the scornful. Ps. 1:1.

God requires uprightness from His church, for light will arise for the upright. Deception and guile are an abomination before the Lord. God’s counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. Isa. 25:1.

The counsel and plans of carnal people are always contaminated by selfish motives, and others have to suffer as a result. By their competence and cleverness they exploit innocent and simple people for personal gain, and this is how they gain power over them.

If a person wants to be upright and just in the counsels of his heart, he must give himself as a sacrifice to do God’s will and be willing to suffer even if it is to his own disadvantage. We must be very watchful so that no one suffers unrighteousness and injury in the church.

Jesus purchased each single soul with His own blood, and they are precious in His eyes. Therefore each soul must also be precious in our eyes. We must have a holy reverence and respect for each other. All loose and vain talk must be done away with. God is exceedingly zealous for what is being said and done in the church of the living God.

“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” Acts 20:28.