Pictures of the Church - Part 1

BANGALORE, India - Nov. 6, 2013 - PRLog -- In "Pictures of the Church" we learn how we are to rightly relate to Jesus, so that we can be the Church He is building.

Matthew 16:18-19

The Lord Jesus is building HIS Church.
We learn that the Church Jesus is building is a strong, powerful, overcoming, advancing, Church that all the powers of hell cannot stop!

This is the kind of Church Jesus is building. Hence, we must align ourselves to this.

We'd like to spend some time examining a few key references to the Church and see what we can learn about the Church, which Jesus is building.

The Body

Colossians 1:18  And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

We are His Body.
1) As His Body, our life flows from Him. (A body without its head is lifeless).
2) As His Body, we represent Him.
3) As His Body, we are His hands and feet - we do His will.
4) As His Body, we are in relationship with one another - we are connected to each other, we supply to (serve) each other and we need each other.

The House of God

1 Timothy 3:15  but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

household = Family

We are His family.
1) As His family first of all we must be in proper relationship with the Father - as His sons and daughters.
2) A son or daughter that is "out of alignment" with the Father, could easily fall "out of alignment" with others in the family.
3) As His family we care for one another.

The Pillar of Truth

1 Timothy 3:15  but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

We are the pillar and ground of truth - the upholders and standard bearers of truth - in a sin sick, corrupt, dark and depraved world.

1) We must be aligned and committed to the truth and individuals and as a local church.
2) We must beware of compromise.
3) We must apply God's truth to today's problems and provide answers. Show how truth applies to today's challenges. Else, although we may have the truth, we cannot influence the world.

The Temple of God

1 Corinthians 3:16,17

We often quote and interpret these verses in an individual sense. While it is true in its individual application - the context deals with a collective body of believers.

1) Together we are the Temple of God - the place where God dwells. We are a habitation of God. We must be filled with His presence.
2) Together we have the responsibility of keeping this Temple holy and free from defilement.

Solomon's Temple was an amazing picture of God's glory invading a literal temple.

2 Chronicles 5:13,14

And yet the Lord promised that the glory of the latter house will be greater than the former:
Haggai 2:7-9

The Early Church manifested this 'greater glory'. The Book of Acts records this.
Its our turn to be the Temple of God and manifest His glory - greater glory.

A House of Prayer

Isaiah 56:7

Matthew 21:12-14

1) God intends for us to be a house of prayer for all nations. We need to be engaged in constant prayer for the nation(s).
2) A House of prayer for the nations will become an oasis of healing for the nations - people will come into the Temple to receive healing.

Act 15:16,17

James quoting from the prophet Amos (9:11,12) indicates that the Church is the spiritual fulfillment of the rebuilding of the Tabernacle of David. In David's tabernacle there was 24/7 praise and worship of God. The result will be that the "rest of mankind" the unsaved will come seeking for the Lord!

Zion - The Assembly of God's People

Hebrews 12:22-24

Mt. Zion in the Old Testament represents the city of David and the people of God in the Old Testament.
Mt. Zion in the New Testament represents the city of the living God and the people of God - the Church.

In 1 Peter 2:6-12 the apostle Peter reminds us that we are Zion, Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone - and hence we ought to walk as the people of God:

1 Peter 2:9-12

The Bride

Perhaps one of the most wonderful pictures of the Church is that of His Bride.

Ephesians 5:22-32

Christ's relationship with the Church is compared to a husband to his wife.

Jesus paid a great price to possess His bride.

Christ is coming back for a bride who will be without spot or wrinkle - who has made herself ready.
Our relationship with our Lord is in some ways defined by the relationship of a bride to a groom.
We'll look into this in greater detail at a later Sunday, but here are some thoughts:
1, The Bride is lost in her love, admiration, commitment to her Groom
2, The Bride adorns herself in what would please her Groom so that she can present herself in her best for the Groom.
3, The Bride keeps herself for the Groom. She does not settle for any other man.

Conclusion

Church is primarily who we are in relation to Him. Without our relation to Him, there is no Church. A body without the head can no longer live and function.

We then relate to one another and to the world out of our relation to Him.

If we put the "cart before the horse" so to speak and make church "about us" (i.e. what do i get) or "about each other" (i.e. community) or "about the world" (i.e. ministry to the world) - then we really do not have Church.
Church is primarily who we are in relation to Him.

We are His Body - I need to be correctly related to the Head, who is Christ.
We are the House of God - we are His family, His sons and daughters. He is our Father.
We are the Pillar of Truth - we align ourselves to the truth.
We are the Temple of God - we are the dwelling of God - His habitation. We keep the Temple holy as the One who dwells in it is holy.
We are Zion - the people of God, assembled for His purposes.
We are A House of Prayer - we minister to Him with the bowl and the harp, in prayer and worship.
We are the Bride - we are completely lost in love for Him, our Bridegroom.

In the coming weeks, we will take a deeper look on a few of these pictures to better understand who we are and what the Lord would expect of us.

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