The church is not a building. A church is not an area or a place I probably want to go to, neither an occasion I most likely to be but it is a spiritual family that I belong to.
The Bible says in Acts 2:41-42 (NLT) “41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. 42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
So the Bible defines it very clear that the church describes the entire body of baptized believers who’ve joined together in a commitment to help each other fulfill God’s purposes for their lives, whether they be in one local church or in a worldwide congregation. The New Testament church grew and flourished as people were added to the group daily. The biblical concept of a church is more than just a building. It’s a community of baptized believers who are committed to the Lord and to each other.
#1 Because The Church Is God’s Own Family
1 Peter 1:3 (TLB) “All honor to God, the God, and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; for it is his boundless mercy that has given us the privilege of being born again so that we are now members of God’s own family. Now we live in the hope of eternal life because Christ rose again from the dead.
The Bible says that the church is the family of God, and this view is rooted in the biblical text. The biblical church focuses on Christ, who is the head of the church. Jesus is the center of the church, and all of its members are members of his body. Everything else flows from Him. This view of the church fits well with modern life. Let us see what this means for Christians today. The Bible teaches that the church is God’s own family.
The church is God’s family, not a building. But is also comprised of all the people who believe in Christ. The Spirit of Christ makes the church grow into a holy temple in the Lord. The church is the family of God. It is a family that includes all human beings and angels.
According to Scripture, the church is God’s family. Its members are a group of people who have been gathered together by the Holy Spirit. They belong to one body and Jesus as the head. They do not practice individuality, but rather a shared love and commitment. It is a foundation of apostles and prophets, and Christ is the cornerstone of that structure.
#2 Because The Church is God’s Unchanging Plan
Ephesians 1:4 (TLB) Long ago, even before he made the world, God chose us to be his very own through what Christ would do for us; he decided then to make us holy in his eyes, without a single fault—we who stand before him covered with his love.
We are told that the “church” is the body of Christ and that it is the foundation of all God’s plans. This is a tremendous statement and one that can be confusing for many people. Yet, the Bible clearly explains that the church exists to glorify God and to build His kingdom. In other words, the church is God’s unchanging plan. And if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, then you should never change the foundational doctrine of the Christian faith.
The church is God’s unchanging plan. From the foundation of the world, this plan is established. The end of the world was declared by God from the beginning, and His hidden wisdom was revealed on the cross. Those who were looking for it know that He has one vision for the church. The church is a part of that vision, and the goal is to be an extension of His kingdom. And while man has repeatedly strayed from it, God has never strayed from His purpose.
The church is God’s unchanging plan. We are to become like Him. That means that we are to live out His mission and serve His purposes. We are to be like Christ. That means that we must imitate him, and our life should mirror that. We are to be like Him, because our lives are not ours, but they are ours to live by.
#3 The Church is the Manifold Wisdom of God
(Ephesians 3:10) His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms
The Church is the manifold wisdom of God. The Church is God’s way of making His infinite wisdom known to the rulers of the heavenly realms. Christ, the head of the church, unites Jews and Gentiles in the one body of Christ. Angels also see and appreciate the wisdom of God in the Church. They rejoice with the Church in the manifold wisdom of God.
Paul is referring to God’s wisdom in the church. In this passage, he is not speaking about the evangelism of the church. He is talking about the very existence of the church. He is revealing the many sides of God’s wisdom. He is making His wisdom known to heavenly beings in heaven, which is why Paul calls the church the manifold wisdom of God.
#4 Jesus Died For the Church
Ephesians 5:25-27 (NCV) 25 Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it 26 to make it belong to God. Christ used the word to make the church clean by washing it with water. 27 He died so that he could give the church to himself like a bride in all her beauty. He died so that the church could be pure and without fault, with no evil or sin or any other wrong thing in it.
Who else would die for the church? Jesus died for the church. He died for His people so that they could live sacrificially. He died on the cross so that his disciples would be motivated by love and joy, equipped with the message, and led by the Spirit. And he died for the church so that they might know how to follow him. And, he died for our salvation. That is why we can worship him with joy.
The gospel is the message of the church. Jesus came to earth to die for you and me, for everyone, for the sins of the world. This means that His death is the way we have salvation. It was the only way to become free from our sinful condition. We are not able to escape it through our own efforts, but the cross can make us feel alive again. We need to know that Jesus died for the church so that we can live a life worthy of Him.
#5 The Church is the Body of Christ
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Because we are members of his body.
The church is the body of Christ because all members must be united and caring for each other. The Bible teaches that all of the members of the church should be unified and concerned with one another. All the parts of the body must operate together for the whole body to function. If any part is not working together, the entire system will fail and an organ will die. If a part of the body is hurt, the whole unit will react and feel that pain.
The body figure emphasizes the preeminence of Christ over the church. Christ is the head, the life, and the source of the church, and it needs constant nourishment and light from the head. The whole body of Christ is the church. The church needs the power of the head to survive. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that keeps the church functioning and growing. It is also the source of all spiritual authority.
#6 The Church is Eternal
Ephesians 3:21 (GW) Glory belongs to God in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time and eternity! Amen.
The Church is eternal, and God is the center of its existence. It is the embodiment of God. It requires the heavens, the earth, space, and a plethora of other items. It is the very foundation of the Christian faith, and it is the center of God’s purpose in the universe.
The church is not a mere temporary entity. It is the focal point of His purpose and plan for redemption for the entire universe. The Church is an enduring manifestation of the Kingdom of Christ. Those with spiritual eyes and ears will discover the plans of God through His church.
In God’s plan to redeem the world, the Church is His bride. This union between the Son of God and His Church is eternal. As the embodiment of God, the Church is eternal. As such, it was designed in God’s mind before time began. While the church was a mystery, it was revealed through the apostles and holy prophets. The church is the corporate expression of Christ. The Lord has a plan for the Church that will endure forever, and it is His mission to fulfill it.
#7 The Church Will Stand Forever
The cross of Christ is the bedrock upon which the Church will stand forever. Nothing can separate us from the finished work of salvation. We are a complete body, and no enemy can come between us and our Lord. In Christ, there is no hope of death or destruction. The cross of Christ has secured our future. We are a people that cannot be destroyed and we will stand forever. Moreover, we will never die or be forgotten.
We are called to be a people of peace and we are all part of this community. The gospel message is the key to our well-being. The Church will stand forever because it is Christ’s body. Hence, we must be at peace with one another. We must love one another in order to live in harmony. This is what we need to do. We need to live our lives according to the Gospel and it must be our highest priority.
Jesus said to Peter his disciple that the church would be built on him and even the Gates of hell will not win. He also assured them that the Church would stand forever. This is an important message. Those who seek peace and harmony should strive to be as faithful as possible. The gospel is true and it is the only way we will see and be with God.
#8 The Church Cannot Be Separated From God’s Love
Romans 8:38-39 (NLT) 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The church cannot be separated from God’s love. This is the first principle of Christianity. The Bible teaches that a Christian cannot be separated from God’s love. This is a powerful truth. It is the same with the love of a church member. A person who loves the Lord will be at peace with his or her Lord. The church cannot be separated from the love of a person who loves God.
If a person is a follower of Jesus Christ, the Bible declares that they will never be separated from God’s love. This principle is particularly powerful. There will always be persecution and adversity, but the love of God will never be lost. It will never be split apart from God. Nevertheless, Christians must know that they are never separated from His love.
In the Bible, Christians will always be loved by God. The love of God will never be broken and nothing can separate us from it. The Christian life is the most important part of life. It is important to remember that we are not separated from God because we are part of His family.
#9 Belonging to God’s Church is a Privilege
1 Peter 1:3 TLB All honor to God, the God, and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; for it is his boundless mercy that has given us the privilege of being born again so that we are now members of God’s own family. Now we live in the hope of eternal life because Christ rose again from the dead.
Being a member of God’s church is a great privilege. It gives us access to God’s Word, the only source of eternal life, and the opportunity to worship God. Being a member of the church is an honor. It is also a responsibility. As a Christian, you have some privileges that other people don’t have.
Christians have the privilege of praying for the church and the world. Samuel declared it a sin not to pray for Israel. The Holy Spirit anoints Christians with power. Like the priests of the Old Testament, the believers of Christ can enter the presence of God. The high priest of the Old Covenant could only enter His presence once a year. We are all equally welcome to pray. Belonging to God’s church is indeed a privilege.
Being a member of God’s church is an honor. You are a part of the body of Christ. Being a member of the church allows you to share in the work of Christ. It helps us live our lives with the spirit of Christ. This privilege is one of the many benefits of being a Christian. It allows us to serve God and others by doing good. Belonging to God’s church is an honor.
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