The Church

By: M. S. Shiflett

        Ever since the church began, there has been an all out attack by the forces of evil to undermine and destroy it.  Not only would those that oppose the church delight in its destruction, but they would even relish the thought of the possibility of its complete eradication from the annals of history.  The skeptics try to downplay it.  The unbelievers try to deny it.  The government tries to regulate it.  The religious misunderstand it, and the hirelings abuse it.  Yet, in accordance with the promise made by the Lord Jesus Christ, the Founder of the church, the gates of hell have not, cannot, and will not prevail against it!

        In the society in which we live today, there are many beliefs concerning the church.  There is much confusion relating to the correct, Biblical teachings of the church.  Just as any Biblical doctrine can be, the doctrine of the church has been falsified and misunderstood to the degree that it is almost impossible to find an average church member that even understands it in its true, scriptural context.

        In no way will this paper be an exhaustive work on the topic of the church.  Instead, we will look at the basic, elementary teachings of Scripture pertaining to the church.  In order to do that, we must first understand the definition of the church, as found in the Word of God.  What is a church?

I. The Organism

        Unlike many popular beliefs, the church is not an organization.  It is an organism. It is alive.  1 Peter 2:5 "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."  The church is not a club, or a business, or a social gathering; it is a living, growing, reproducing, eternal organism.  The basic misconception of many people is that the church is nothing more than a place to meet and participate in religious activity.  That is a gross distortion of the truth!  The church is far more than that.

        A. The Body of Christ

        The Bible teaches us that the church is the body of Christ.  Notice these verses that clearly portray the church as being the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 12:5 "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."  1 Corinthians 12:12 "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ."  1 Corinthians 12:27 "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."  Ephesians 4:12 "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" Ephesians 5:23 "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."

        To make it simpler, when a person becomes a child of God, they immediately become a part of the body of Christ.  Each believer has a specific function in the body.  There is only one Head, which is Christ, but there are many members.  Here is where we must introduce the Biblical concept of the local church.  Even though the entire body of believers is called ‘the church', the Bible is very clear that this is best illustrated by the local, geographical assembly of believers.  Just as a new believer becomes a member of the body of Christ by salvation, they are commanded to become a member of the local church immediately after salvation.  Notice these Biblical examples of this principle.  Acts 2:41 "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."  Acts 2:47 "Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

To be perfectly honest, the word ‘church' is found in the King James Bible 79 times.  What makes this even more interesting is that the word ‘churches' is found 36 times.  It is very clear from the plural use of the word ‘church' that the word ‘churches' implies that there are more than one, hence the doctrine of the local church.  Notice for example, Acts 15:41 "And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches."

        What is more amazing is that of the 79 times we find the word ‘church' mentioned, nearly all of them refer to a specific, local assembly.  Notice these illustrations: Acts 8:1 "And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem..." Acts 13:1 "Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers..." Romans 16:1 "I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:" Romans 16:5 "Likewise greet the church that is in their house." 1 Corinthians 4:17  "For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church."

        To doubt or deny the importance of the local church is to doubt or deny basic, Biblical teaching.  We will even go one step further.  The local church is often referred to as ‘the church'!  Notice in Acts 20:28 "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." In these verses, the Apostle Paul is speaking to the elders of the church of Ephesus.  He reminds them of their responsibility to feed the church of God.  Yet it is clear that their ministry and preaching is at a local church - the church of Ephesus.  As we study the doctrine of the church, it is imperative that we are constantly reminded of the simple truth that the commands and the instruction to us concerning the church are found only within the safety and under the authority of the local church.   To believe otherwise is to walk in clear denial of Scripture!  We will look at the local church and its authority more in detail later on, but for now let us examine the Biblical truth that the church is also pictured as a bride.

        B. The Bride of Christ

        In our understanding that the church is a living, functioning organism, we are acutely aware of God's love and affection for the church.  He even refers to the church in several places as His bride. There will even be a marriage supper in Heaven after a literal wedding takes place between the Lord Jesus Christ and his beloved church!  Notice these verses of Scripture. Revelation 19:6-9 "... 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 saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb."  Revelation 21:9 "... Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife."

        We even find prophetic reference in the Old Testament to God's amazing affection for the church and compares His love for the church to that of a bride and groom. Isaiah 62:5 "...and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee".  Ephesians chapter five paints a most descriptive picture of God's relationship with the church.   Paul begins by saying, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;"  He goes on with even more detail and makes it perfectly clear just what he is talking about.  "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 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."  Then he puts the icing on the cake with this analogy in verse twenty-nine.  "For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church."   What a wonderful description of the relationship between Christ and His church!  Do not be mistaken; Christ is not marrying an organization!

        C. The Building of Christ

        The Bible several times makes reference to the church being a building.  It is a work that Christ began and is continuing to build.  The church has been ‘under construction' for almost 2,000 years.  It has as its chief Cornerstone none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 2:19-22 "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, ... and of the household of God; ... Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." 1 Corinthians 3:9 "For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building."

There are many local churches, and each one will have it's own distinct personality and characteristics.  However, each true, Biblical, New Testament church will have a common Foundation, a common faith, a common fellowship and a common future.

II. The Origin

        The beginning of the church has been a matter of great debate for many years.  It is impossible to give the church of the living God a ‘birth date'.  It is clear from the Scriptures that the origin of the church was a process that cannot be confined or restricted to a single event or day in history.  I believe in order to understand the origin of the church, we must look at a few notable events. 

        A. The Conception of the Church

        Without a doubt, the church was conceived in the mind of God long before the creation of the world.  God has always had a plan for man, and that plan included the impact and the institution of the church.  Ephesians 1:4 "According as he hath chosen us (the church) in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:"  Even in the Old Testament, there are many principles and even some typologies that portray the New Testament church.  However, the church did not actually begin as we know it today until the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Here are a just a few of the distinct characteristics of the local church that began and were exemplified during the life and ministry of Jesus.

• Ordination of Officers and A Treasurer - John 13:29; Mark 3:14
• Power and Authority - Luke 9:1; Mark 13:34
• Had to Be in Existence to Be Died for and Added to - Eph. 5:25; Acts 2:41
• A Ladies Aid - Luke8:2, 3
• Services with Members and Visitors Present - Luke 6:17
• Had the Holy Spirit With and In Them - John 14:17; John 20:22
• Had a Change Of Pastors - John 10:14; John 21:15; Acts 1:15
• Had Specific Missionary Fields - Matt. 10:5, 6; John 4:4
• Had All the Commands Necessary to Bea Gospel Church - Matt. 28:20
• Had the Gospel Remission of Sins and Gospel Commission - Luke 24:47; John 20:23; Matt. 28:19
• Had True Worship and Worshippers - John 4:23
• Had A Charter Member Foundation - Eph. 2:20; 1 Cor. 12:28
• Had Baptized Disciples - John 4:1
• Rules for Church Discipline - Matt. 18:17
• Soul Winning - John 1:42
• Had a New Testament Lord's Supper - Matt. 26:26-28
• A Definite Doctrine that Could Be Continued In - Acts 2:42
• An Attendance Roll - Acts 1:15
• Prayer and Business Meetings - Acts 1:14, Acts 1:23
• Song Services - Matt. 26:30

        B. The Culmination of the Church

        It is very clear that the church was founded, functioning and fellowshipping during the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.  His entire ministry was that of EQUIPPING and EDUCATING the church for the work He had called them to do.  However, there was still more that God had planned for the church, and that was its ENABLING.  Jesus clearly told the disciples in Luke 24:49 "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."  The education and the equipping they had received during the ministry of Christ were culminated when they received a public, church-wide baptism of the Holy Ghost.  The purpose of this special day described in Acts 2 as the day of Pentecost was to mark the birth of a church that had been growing and developing over the past few years.  Jesus was very clear that this ‘empowering' of the church was vital to its existence and its extension into the rest of the world.  No one can deny or underestimate the significance of the day of Pentecost.  It is without a doubt the single most important day in the origin and birth of the church, other than the day Christ was crucified and the day He arose.  The day the church was filled with the Holy Ghost was the beginning of the world's recognition of the fact that something was in their midst that was definitely not man-made.  It was of God!  It was conceived in the mind of God, cultivated during the ministry of Christ, and culminated the day it was endued with the power of the Holy Ghost in the presence of the world at Pentecost.

III. The Officers

        Though there may be some dispute among some people, the Bible only mentions two specific offices in the church.  

        A. The Shepherd of the Church - The Pastor

        The first office is that of pastor.  Much could be said about this role in the church. The Bible uses several words to describe this office; some of them being bishop, elder, pastor and ruler.  The office of pastor is one that comes with much responsibility.  The Bible gives a lengthy list of qualifications for the pastor.  They are found in I Timothy 3:1-7.  They are clear, specific and unchanging!  The responsibilities of the pastor are clearly laid out in Scripture.  They are to lead, be an example, teach, preach, evangelize, instruct, love, warn, and feed the flock of God.  I Peter 5:2 "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind..."  They are not to dominate or dictate, but they are to direct the sheep, demonstrate spirituality and deliver the Scriptures. 1 Peter 5:3 "Neither as being lords over God‘s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock".  

Knowing the responsibilities and the guidelines of the pastor requires discernment, spirituality and wisdom.  This office in the church is vital and necessary.  God's word is clear that the pastor had a God-given authority to boldly preach and proclaim what "thus saith the Lord". Titus 2:15 "These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee."  The pastor should be called of God, commissioned by the church, controlled by the Spirit, communicating the Scriptures, and compassionate toward sinners. 

I thank God for the pastors that have preached to me, advised me, warned me and directed me down through my life.  The Bible tells the pastor that if he fulfills his office according to the plan of God, he will receive a much deserved reward.  I Peter 5:4  "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."

        B. The Servant of the Church - The Deacon

        The office of the deacon is an office that is greatly misunderstood.  As a result, it is greatly abused in many churches today.  The Bible gives clear direction as to the responsibilities and requirements of the deacon.  The first deacons that were chosen were chosen out of a church of thousands of people.  They were handpicked according the stipulations that God Himself set forth.  They were to be men of character, wise, honest and filled with the Spirit.  Acts 6:3 "Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business."  What was the business that they were to oversee?  It was not the business of overseeing the pastor, or even the church!  They were not to set themselves over the people and over the man of God.  Instead, they were to serve the church and relieve the pastor of nominal tasks and help keep the peace and unity in the church.  Acts 6:1 "And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables."

In I Timothy 3:8-16, we find a very clear, simple set of qualifications for the man that was to fill the office of the deacon.  As a servant in the church with an elected position, he was to be of the utmost integrity and spirituality.  The office of deacon is a very important role in the New Testament church and should not be taken lightly or for granted.

IV. The Ordinances

        Just as there are only two offices given in the Word of God for the church, there are only two ordinances prescribed by the Scriptures.  These two ordinances are clearly given to the church, and both of them come with explicit instructions.  They are not to be taken lightly or neglected.  Both are commanded, and Jesus Christ himself illustrated both of these ordinances during his earthly ministry.  We will look at these briefly, starting with the one that is mentioned first in the Scriptures.

        A. The Baptism of the Believer

        The Bible is very clear that those that believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and are saved should be publicly baptized by immersion.  In fact, the word ‘baptize' means "to immerse".  It is a picture of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus to illustrate that he died, was buried and rose again.  The book of Romans tells us that "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4)   The Bible tells us that Christ was baptized in order to "fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15).  In the book of Acts, the Bible is very clear that "they that gladly received his word were baptized:" (Acts 2:41)  The first step of obedience for the new believer is follow the Lord in believer's baptism.  The requirement is that they must have been saved by trusting in the finished work of Calvary.  There is no Biblical basis for the practice of pedo-baptism (baptizing of infants), and neither is there any Biblical basis for the baptism of unbelievers.  Baptism is a requirement for church membership, according to Acts 2:41 "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."

        B. The Breaking of Bread

        The second ordinance given to the church is that of commemorating the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ with a symbolic reminder known as the Lord's Supper.  This ordinance is also known as ‘breaking of bread', ‘the Lord's Table', or simply ‘Communion'.  It is a time of remembrance.  Luke 22:19 "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me."  It is also a time for confessing sin and clearing your heart of sin.  I Cor. 11:27, 28 "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup."   The Bible forbids the church to have Communion with unbelievers and members of the church that are living in open sin.  1 Corinthians 5:11 "But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."  The Bible also is clear that the wine and the bread should be of an unleavened, unfermented nature.  Leaven is a picture of sin, and the body and the blood of the Lord Jesus were sinless.

        Neither of the two ordinances should be observed or administered apart from the authority of the local church.  Baptisms and the Lord's Supper should not be administered by unauthorized, unscriptural people.  These two ordinances were given specifically to the church, and should be done according to the guidelines set forth in the Word of God.

V. The Offerings

        There are three basic types of offerings that God expects the church to be involved in.  They are simply the tithe, the free-will offering, and faith promise missions giving.  All three of these offerings are clearly outlined in the Scriptures.  Let's examine them briefly.

        A. The Tithe

        Many people argue that the tithe is no longer in effect for the New Testament church.  However, there is no record in the Scripture where the tithe was ever abolished.  It was in effect prior to the law being given, and its purpose is "that there may be meat in my house."  Malachi 3:10.  As long as God has a house, there needs to be meat in it!  If Moses could give a tithe before the law, and the children of Israel could tithe under the law, the church should be able to tithe under grace.  Jesus commended it in Matthew 23:23.  The Bible is very clear in its description of those that fail or refuse to tithe - they are robbers!

        B. The Free-will Offering

        Not only did God clearly command the people to tithe, but He also commanded them to give above their tithe.  This is called a free-will offering, meaning that the amount is up to the individual will of the believer. Malachi 3:8  "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings."  The New Testament makes many references to the church's proper attitude toward giving.  2 Corinthians 9:7  "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

        C. The Faith Promise Missions Offering

        Paul clearly taught that the church should be involved in a faith-based giving program that was specifically designated for those that carry the gospel around the world.  2 Corinthians 8:10 "And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago."  This offering was premeditated, planned and personally given to those that labored in the vineyard of the Lord.  Paul further explained the purpose of the missions offering in Philippians 4:15, 16 "For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account."  This offering was to be systematic and sanctified for the purpose of propagating the gospel.  This offering is a special blessing because God gives through the believer, many times beyond their own ability and power. 2 Corinthians 8:2-4 "How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.  For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift," 

VI. The Opportunities

        The church is not just a place with rules and regulations.  The church presents many delightful opportunities to the child of God.  Without the church, the believer would be at a great disadvantage.  The church opens the door for many possibilities, all of which greatly enrich the life of the Christian.  For the sake of time, we will look at just three of the many opportunities presented to the believer that is a part of the local church.

        A. Worship

        One of the greatest opportunities a believer has is the liberty to worship the Lord.  All throughout the Scripture, those that love God are depicted as being ‘worshippers'.  They praise God and worship Him by lifting up their voice in song, by praying, by exalting His name and testifying of His goodness and many blessings.  Worship is without a doubt one of the greatest benefits of attending church.  It goes without saying that one can worship God anytime, anyplace.  However, there is just something about the house of God that is particularly conducive to old-fashion worship.  God desires that those He has saved would worship him.  John 4:23 "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him."   Psalms 100:4 "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name."

        B. Fellowship

        Another of the benefits of being a part of the local church is the pleasure of fellowshipping with other believers.  The first church at Jerusalem was very active in this practiced called ‘fellowship'.  Acts 2:42 "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles‘ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." The Bible is very clear that one of the stipulations for fellowship is the common bond that comes from knowing God.  1 John 1:3 "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."   In Galatians, the local church extended the right hand of fellowship to those that would be laboring in the ministry.  Galatians 2:9 "And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision."

        C. Discipleship

        One of my favorite reasons for going to church is to learn more about my Saviour.  The Bible is clear that the church is to be a place where people can come and be taught the Word of God and how to live a life pleasing unto God.  Notice these verses that stress the discipleship aspects of the house of God.  Acts 11:26 "...And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people..." 1 Corinthians 4:17 "For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church."   What better confirmation of God's will for the church than the words of the Lord Jesus Christ himself when He said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matt. 28:19-20)

VII. The Obligations

        Not only is the church a place of delight, but it is also a place of duty.  When the Lord instituted the church, He had a plan for each member and a task for them to perform.  Many times in the Scriptures, it refers to a member of the body and his function.  As individuals, we all have a specific job that God wants us to do.  Once we find His will for our life, we are to exercise that will and perform that plan within the local church.  Though the individual duties may vary, there are at least three basic obligations of every church that should be fulfilled collectively.  Let's examine each one briefly.

        A. Testimony

        It goes without saying, but the number one obligation of each local church is to be a testimony of the goodness and grace of God.  They are commanded in the  Scripture to be a light and the salt of the earth.  Matthew 5:13-16 "Ye are the salt of the earth... Ye are the light of the world...Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

The world is searching for the truth, and it is the job of every believer to demonstrate the power of the gospel in their every day life.  One of the worst mistakes of a believer is underestimating the influence they can have on not only other believers, but on those that are lost.  Paul told the church at Corinth that they were "... ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us..." 2 Corinthians 5:20.  That was Paul's way of telling them that when people see the church, they should be seeing an accurate depiction of Christ!

        B. Training Leaders

        One of the other obligations of the church is to be building a church for the future.  In order to do that, we should be teaching our children and every new convert that they are the church of tomorrow.  They should be taught that the business of the church and the burdens of the church will be passed on to them and they should be learning how to function in the capacity of a leader in the church.  One of the major mistakes of many churches is they use their people to build ministries instead of using their ministries to build people.  Responsibility must be handed down, and people must be trained to take the church when the older ones are passed off of the scene.  Paul instructed young Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2 "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."  Jesus spent the large majority of His earthly ministry training His disciples to continue and carry out the responsibilities of the church.  He educated them and enabled them, then he entrusted them with the greatest responsibility imaginable - the continuation and oversight of the church of the living God!  Producing faithful men will eventually produce fruitful men.

        C. Taking the Gospel

        Last but not least, one of the greatest obligations of the church is the furtherance of the gospel.  The last thing Jesus said before He ascended was, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15)  In Acts, Jesus was more specific with his departing command.  "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."  (Acts 1:8)  The Bible is very clear that it is not God's will that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  God is also very clear about who is responsible for the evangelization of the world.  God commissioned the church to take the gospel to a lost and dying world.  Those churches that get involved in world missions discover just how pleased God is when we make His final command a major objective.  Jesus only had one prayer request, and it was for believers to go and spread the gospel to those dying in their sins.  Luke 10:2 "Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest."  Without a doubt, one of the greatest obligations the church has is to proclaim and propagate the gospel of a Savior that died for the sins of the world!

VII. The Overview

        In closing, I would like to make some heartfelt remarks concerning the church.  I must admit that after having read the Scriptures, and discovered just how much Christ loved the church, I too have a deep love for the church.  In today's society, there is much misunderstanding and much ignorance concerning the doctrines of the church and its functions and importance.  One of the greatest disappointments is the fact that many church members fail to comprehend the significance of the local church.  I want to address four basic areas in my closing remarks that deal with some specific passions of mine concerning the church.

        A. Faithfulness to the Church

        The Bible is very explicit in its command concerning faithfulness.  "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."  (Hebrews 10:25)  We are commanded to support the church with our attendance.  People who miss church and ignore the command to attend faithfully will stand before God and give an account for their negligence.  Christ died for the church, and He does not take kindly to those that treat it with a casual, non-committed attitude.  The church at Jerusalem had services every day, and the result of that was a group of close-knit, dedicated, Spirit-filled people and souls being saved daily!  The Psalmist David had the proper attitude toward attending the house of God.  "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD." (Psalm 122:1)  How anyone could understand the role of the church in the life of the believer, and still forsake it and ignore it and abuse it and take it for granted is beyond my comprehension!  The church is where our souls are fed and our spirits are refreshed.  The house of God is where we receive our strength to continue on in the good fight of faith.  The sanctuary is where our hearts are revived and we are reminded of our duties and obligations.  The church is where we hear once again the old story of the cross.  How anybody could miss a single service is beyond me!

        B. Foes of the Church

        It goes without saying that anything God institutes will be attacked by Satan and the world.  Jesus warned of this when He made this statement in Matthew 16:18 "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."  Christ knew that the devil would not stop until he had exhausted every possible effort to undermine and destroy the church of the living God.  The enemies of the church are not just outside the church, but there are those that are inside that are used of the devil to undermine the church and the work of God.  Those that attempt to serve God apart from the church are its foes.  Those that refuse to submit to the authority of the local church are its enemies.  Members that fail to attend faithfully are indirectly in opposition to the ministry of the local church.  They are a source of discouragement, defeat, and God will hold them responsible for their actions.  Organizations and religious groups that ignore the authority of the church are operating illegitimately.  They do not have the protection of God on them, and neither do they have His Divine power to aid them in their agendas.

        The infiltration of the church not only includes those that are ignorant of the Word of God's teachings concerning the church.  Those that allow worldliness in their life and make no effort to live a life of godliness and holiness are being used of Satan to dilute and destroy the effectiveness of the local church.  God requires holiness, and worldly affections and worldly vices hurt both the church's testimony and its effectiveness.  That is the reason why the church is commanded to enforce and practice church discipline.  Matthew 18:15-17 "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.  And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican."

        C. Faith of the Church

        One of the most valued parts of the church is its doctrine.  God warned the church many times of the importance of remaining faithful to the truths that have been passed down through the years.  Jude 1:3 "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."  The church has a huge responsibility, and that is to make sure that the doctrines that are taught in the Bible are taught to the church; not watered down and changed to suit people's desires.  Compromise is rampant, and many pastors and churches are guilty of gross negligence in the area of doctrinal purity.  They have failed miserably at the command of the Lord Jesus Christ to be "teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you" Matthew 28:20   God give us churches that will adhere to the principles laid out in the Word of God, and not depart from the doctrines of the faith!

        D. Future of the Church

        Lastly, I would like to make mention of a future event that will without a doubt be a great day for the church.  The Word of God teaches us that the Lord Jesus Christ will come back personally to receive His beloved bride, the church, unto Himself.  He promised the church in several passages of Scripture that they would not remain here on this earth to endure the wrath of His judgment, but would rather be caught up to be with Him in the clouds, and so shall they ever be with the Lord.  What a glad day, when the church, made up of every child of God that has ever been saved, will be reunited in Heaven to enjoy the rest of eternity together and with the Lord.  No more testing, no more trials, no more tribulation and no more turmoil.  All our fighting and warring will be over, and we will be able to enjoy the unspeakable blessings of God Himself as we live throughout the ages.  Amen!
John 14:3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."