The Church

The Church

“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.” Eph. 5:27.

Now we are going to have a look at what the church essentially is. “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.” 1 Cor. 1:26-29.

These are the kinds of people Jesus has chosen, and this is the goal He has set before them: to present them holy and without blemish in glory. His profound love and faith is revealed by Him undertaking such a work, and it is of the utmost importance that we, as Jesus’ co-workers, have this same love and faith for each other. If we are to have this love, we must not reckon with what a person is according to the flesh, but we must reckon with Jesus’ salvation.

“And the Lord added to the church daily those who were willing to be saved.” Acts 2:47. It doesn’t matter what state you are in as long as you are willing to be saved and don’t go away offended and bitter. Then Jesus’ love and faith for you will add up to a tremendous glory on the Day when you will be presented without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.

For several thousand years the nations have chosen the most excellent, the mightiest, and wisest from among them to rule over them, but it has all ended up in war, hunger, and pestilence.

When the Day of the Lord comes, He will present the church to Himself in glory. There will have to be a tremendous glory over them, and over Jesus, because of the work that He has done with them. Just think of the election that He made. Think of the reproach that was over the weak, the base, the despised, and those who are nothing. Now they stand there without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, holy and blameless. What does that mean? It means that they stand there saved from seeking their own, from partiality, love of money, the lust to rule, vanity, flattery, envy, etc. Jesus will present these people to the nations and appoint them to rule together with Him. Rev. 2:26-27; 5:9-10. Think of the glory there will be when all of them are in a position of authority. That will be the millennium for which all of creation is groaning.

We can count ourselves fortunate that in the church we have come under such treatment and such influence. Therefore rejoice and be glad when you are chastised, punished, corrected, and exhorted. Just let yourself be saved even if it hurts ever so much. Be humble and accept it with thankfulness. Do not lose courage and faith, for if you partake of such treatment it proves that Jesus has a tremendous goal with you. You feel wretched and weak; just don’t give up, but let yourself be saved, and you will receive your reward for the crucible in which you are. You think that no one has faith for you, but your glory will be all the greater on that Day when you will be presented without spot or wrinkle.