Part 1 of 4 parts
Who and What are we talking about?
When we talk about “The Church”, we mean the global organic coalition of follower-doers of Jesus and His instructions, who span nations, cultures and ethnic groups. This is the fellowship of believers in Jesus who look to Him and are willing apprentices of a master builder: following His instructions closely and watching His ways. Those who believe Him and are learning to do what He taught are those who belong to His Fellowship. (See Matthew 7:24 and Luke 6:46). We are united by Him, above anything else.
That is not necessarily ruling out any earthly institutions, but Christ’s church is not a man-made organization. We believe that Jesus said His gathering, (fellowship or church) are those who know His voice, and follow Him. (John 10:27) The Church is a spiritual unity of all those who belong to Him (Ephesians 4:1-6).
Challenges in the Fellowship
A lot of people have criticism for “the church” today; some even go so far as to say that the church is dying, dead, broken or worse. When you press in, what they mean is “the institution(s)” that they personally follow or know of are in trouble. Others mean: the church doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do, according to them. Sometimes, you find that they are not truly followers of Jesus and not doing His word. Rather they are just critics with selfish motives. This is much of the problem “in church” today: too many critics and too few “doers”.
We are clear on this: God is not limited by the workings of men and their institutions. There are a lot of people and a lot of institutions which are busy with things that Christ is not calling us to do. Yet, Christ Himself is very actively doing His work in this world today – through The Church, this through the people who hear His voice and follow Him. He will continue to do all that He promised He would do, until He returns. If you are missing that, you are probably looking in the wrong places.
Victorious King and His Authority
To see what God is doing in the world today, we have to define: “The Church”. Because Jesus is very active in this world through His gathering of His people; And if you think that is dying, I have news for you, we will be busy doing what He instructed until He returns for us.
In Matthew 16:18 Jesus said “on this Rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” and in Matthew 28:18, Jesus said “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me…” So, Jesus made it clear that there is no power on earth or in the heavenly realms that can stop what He is doing here in this world. There is only one Rock; defined by Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:4, Psalm 62:2-7, Psalm 18:2-46, Isaiah 17:10 and He is Christ; and Christ will not fail to do what He has promised.
Use these hashtags to find more content: #FellowshipOfBelievers #JesusFollowers #BeABerean
Learn what God is doing in The Churches today, when it seems things are dying, here.
Look up the Bible References
The Fellowship of Believers in Jesus: The Church is Triumphant
When we talk about “The Church”, we mean the global organic coalition of follower-doers of Jesus and His instructions, who span nations, cultures and ethnic groups. This is the fellowship of believers in Jesus who look to Him and are willing apprentices of a master builder: following His instructions closely and watching His ways. Those who believe Him and are learning to do what He taught are those who belong to His Fellowship. (See Matthew 7:24 and Luke 6:46). We are united by Him, above anything else.
That is not necessarily ruling out any earthly institutions, but Christ’s church is not a man-made organization. We believe that Jesus said His gathering, (fellowship or church) are those who know His voice, and follow Him. (John 10:27) The Church is a spiritual unity of all those who belong to Him (Ephesians 4:1-6).
Challenges in the Fellowship
A lot of people have criticism for “the church” today; some even go so far as to say that the church is dying, dead, broken or worse. When you press in, what they mean is “the institution(s)” that they personally follow or know of are in trouble. Others mean: the church doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do, according to them. Sometimes, you find that they are not truly followers of Jesus and not doing His word. Rather they are just critics with selfish motives. This is much of the problem “in church” today: too many critics and too few “doers”.
We are clear on this: God is not limited by the workings of men and their institutions. There are a lot of people and a lot of institutions which are busy with things that Christ is not calling us to do. Yet, Christ Himself is very actively doing His work in this world today – through The Church, this through the people who hear His voice and follow Him. He will continue to do all that He promised He would do, until He returns. If you are missing that, you are probably looking in the wrong places.
Victorious King and His Authority
To see what God is doing in the world today, we have to define: “The Church”. Because Jesus is very active in this world through His gathering of His people; And if you think that is dying, I have news for you, we will be busy doing what He instructed until He returns for us.
In Matthew 16:18 Jesus said “on this Rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” and in Matthew 28:18, Jesus said “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me…” So, Jesus made it clear that there is no power on earth or in the heavenly realms that can stop what He is doing here in this world. There is only one Rock; defined by Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:4, Psalm 62:2-7, Psalm 18:2-46, Isaiah 17:10 and He is Christ; and Christ will not fail to do what He has promised.
Use these hashtags to find more content: #FellowshipOfBelievers #JesusFollowers #BeABerean
Learn what God is doing in The Churches today, when it seems things are dying, here.
Published in Commentary, Fellowship of Believers and Prepared Warriors