Introduction
The only guide for this footstool of sorrow, sin, and death,
to the sunny land of bliss, is the blood sealed covenant of
the blood of Christ.
The church, the called out, the saved ones. All descriptive terms
for they that have been obedient to Christ. This a subject
that we must present in the interest of the souls of men.
MATT. 16:13-18 Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea
Philippi, he asked his
disciples, saying, Who do men say that the Son of man is? And they said,
Some say John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of
the
prophets. He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am? And Simon
Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon
Bar-jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father
who is in heaven. And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon
this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail
against
it.
This is a very familiar scripture and one that every Christian should memorize and understand this passage intimately.
The church you read of and about in the New Testament, and the
truth that is revealed concerning this blood
bought organization or institution. That is what we will discuss
in this material today.
The New Testament church is not an extension of the former Jewish economy
brought over in this dispensation.
The New testament church is in no sense of the term a political organization
nor as such, a social order.
The church is not a denomination or cult.
The truth revealed about the church is that the church is a monarchy with Christ Jesus as the king.
The church is a body one of the perfect analogies pictured in the New Testament. One body comprised or made up of many members.
In this relationship of a body we also note that there is a relationship with God as being his family or household.
Through Christ Jesus the church has her bride.
Rom. 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made
dead to the law through the body
of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, even to him who was raised
from
the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God.
In relationship with the Lord the church is just that his called out
I Pet. 2:9 But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, a
people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the
excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous
light:
Separated from things profane, dedicated exclusively unto God.
The church has its origin, inception and establishment clearly revealed by the truth of God's word.
The church of Jesus Christ has a specific beginning and we will look
at this topic today.
Isa. 2:2-4 And it shall come to pass in the latter days,
that the mountain of Jehovah's
house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted
above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. and many peoples shall
go
and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house
of
the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in
his
paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah
from
Jerusalem. And he will judge between the nations, and will decide
concerning many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against
nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
This prophet prophesied about 759-690 B.C. thus some 700-750 years before
Christ was born in the flesh on earth.
Isaiah reveals three things here at least. about what he calls Jehovah's house. Lets break this down a little.
What is Jehovah's house concerning this prophecy that has been made? First of all lets see what the Bible says.
Jehovah is God and the house of God is specified by scripture. By inspiration we can understand.
I Tim. 3:15 but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know
how men ought to behave
themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God,
the pillar and ground of the truth.
The church of the Lord is under consideration here in this prophecy of Isaiah. Not that Isaiah stated that this house described as the church by Paul would be established in the last days.
Isa. 2:2-4 And it shall come to pass in the latter days,
that the mountain of Jehovah's
house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted
above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. and many peoples shall
go
and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house
of
the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in
his
paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah
from
Jerusalem. And he will judge between the nations, and will decide
concerning many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against
nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
The place as well as the time is specified as being in Zion. The word
of Jehovah would go forth from the city
of Jerusalem.
It is interesting to observe the terminology that Jehovah's house, the church will have its beginning right in the top of the mountain.
Jerusalem is located in the mountainous region of Judea. Right up in the top of the mountains.
The prophet says the house would begin in the city of Jerusalem.
Note something else about the church, or Jehovah's house, concerning
and regarding the far reaching extent and
qualities which it influences and that which it embraces.
All nations shall flow into it. That was not true concerning the
law under which Isaiah lived. This prophet lived under the time of
the law of Moses. The law of Moses was given in 1500 B. C.
When God gave his law to Moses and Israel this was
about three months after the deliverance from the bondage of Israel
in Egypt.
The law of moses was written on two tablets making the constitution
of the nation of Israel making the law of moses. This was
a national religion and law. This covenant was given to the Jews, exclusively
to the nation of Israel.
Deut. 5:1-5 And Moses called unto all Israel, and
said unto them, Hear,
O Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I speak in your
ears this day, that ye may learn them, and observe to do them.
Jehovah our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. Jehovah made
not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of
us
here alive this day. Jehovah spake with you face to face in the mount
out
of the midst of the fire, (I stood between Jehovah and you at that
time, to
show you the word of Jehovah: for ye were afraid because of the fire, and
went not up into the mount;) saying,
This law was given for the specific purpose of making sin sinful,
Gal. 3:19 What then is the law? It was added because of
transgressions, till the seed
should come to whom the promise hath been made; and it was ordained
through angels by the hand of a mediator.
The law was for a limited specified duration of time, until the seed should come of whom the promise had been made,
Gal. 3:19 What then is the law? It was added
because of transgressions, till the seed
should come to whom the promise hath been made; and it was ordained
through angels by the hand of a mediator.
Gal. 3:16 Now to Abraham were the promises spoken,
and to his
seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to
thy seed,
which is Christ.
God had promised Abraham that through his seed singular, shall all the
nations or families of the earth be blessed.
The seed was manifest and declared to be Christ Jesus.
The law of Moses came 430 years after this promise and had to be disannulled
in the fulfillment of the messiah or Christ.
Isaiah tells us that when Jehovah establishes his house in Jerusalem all nations shall flow unto it. Thus he is also pointing out the extent of Jehovah's house as well as the nature of the house.
Isa. 2:4 And he will judge between the nations, and
will decide concerning many
peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears
into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither
shall
they learn war any more.
The house of the Lord is a peaceful kingdom.
Someone says preacher, that bespeaks of the doctrine of pre-millenialism. No it does no such thing.
The doctrine of pre-millenialism can be summed up like this.
Pre, means before
millennial, means 1,000
and "ism," means it ain't so.
Pre-millenialism does not have a word of truth in its concept or theory,
Somebody says, well we expect a time will be on this earth ,when everyone will be peaceful and in harmony with everyone else. Even the animals will live in a state of harmony.
Friends your expectation if it is in this, is truly in vain. The Lord has no where nor even remotely suggested such an era on this earth.
The beating of plowshares into pruning hooks has reference to the citizens that make up Jehovah's house.
The weapons of our warfare are not carnal.
II Cor. 10:4 (for the weapons of our warfare are
not of the flesh, but mighty
before God to the casting down of strongholds),
Eph. 6:12 For our wrestling is not against flesh
and blood, but against the principalities,
against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against
the
spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
God does not use carnal weapons in pursuing and prosecuting the battles that is ours as Christians to fight to death, thus the citizenry of the kingdom of God or the house of Jehovah the church does not use weapons of carnal weapon to do violence to their fellow man in any sense of the term of war.
The church, Jehovah's house, is primarily interested in the salvation of the immortal soul of those who very soon must pass from this life in their sins. If you are lost in the world without christ you have wasted your life with a very bad venture. and you will be lost in torment and hell.
This life is but a proving ground for eternity in the final analysis. What you do in the flesh will be the basis of your judgment.
II Cor. 5:10 For we must all be made manifest before
the judgment-seat of Christ; that
each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he
hath
done, whether it be good or bad.
Well someone says preacher, notice how many times the Bible talks about the harmony of the animals in peace.
Isa. 11:6 And the wolf shall dwell with the
lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little
child shall lead them.
Yes and a little child shall lead them.
Somebody says these animals shall be docile and lose their viciousness and ferocious nature.
I am sure you understand and are aware that the Bible employs figurative language on occasion. You say how do you know or prove this is figurative.
The next verse proves it.
Isa. 11:8 And the sucking child shall play
on the hole of the asp, and the
weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.
Lets talk about nature for a moment.
The entire structure of the lion would have to be redone. If you know anything about the balance of nature you would know that the beast of prey is just as important as the animal to be preyed upon. The lion is a carnivore and is not as such a vegetarian. This animal does not kill simply for the purpose of killing. The lion kills from hunger looking for fresh meat and he always will.
But preacher then what is Isaiah talking about then?
Isa. 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in
all my holy mountain; for the earth shall
be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea.
Oh your talking about this mountain of Jehovah's house? That's correct. He has already spoken of them beating their swords into plowshares and spears into pruning shears.
Somebody says yeah, but where do you get the lion and lamb fulfilled. Just turn over to the book of Acts and start reading.
There was a man that was exceedingly mad and making havoc against the Lord's church. He sought to arrest and kill Christians on the basic charge of blasphemy. This man voted to kill Christians. He persecuted Christ people and sought to do many things injurious and cruel to the cause of Christ.
One day on the way to Damascus he encountered about 150 miles from Jerusalem a bright light that shined upon this man.
He came into contact with the Lord Jesus Christ and everything changed the persecutor became a preacher. The killer became a Christian.
Three days later he was obedient to the disciple who declared God's will for him to arise and be baptized, wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the lord.
From That day forth he proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ with all the power of his will. As a matter of fact a disciple named Barnabas introduced Saul to the other Christians. Other Christians feared him. This man Barnabas is called a good man, full of faith and the holy Spirit.
Here you have the lion and the lamb working shoulder to shoulder in the kingdom of God.
There had at that time not been a lion like as Paul baptized into the church.
Isaiah is speaking about the population of the church as he employs his figurative language to show that a person like Saul can be changed to become mild, meek and faithful. The use of animals natures are used to illustrate this truth.
What is Isaiah saying about the house of Jehovah. That it is a spiritual government and not a carnal government.
The carnal governments are maintained and protected by use of the carnal sword. Not so with this government, not so with the kingdom of God the Church of the father in heaven.
The kingdom was not established nor maintained by the physical sword. Nor will there be any place with the pursuits of its assigned tasks for the carnal implements of combat. That's what this is all about.
Isaiah gives us the time, place and extent and nature of Jehovah's house. Daniel also gave much about the house or kingdom of God.
Dan. 2:44 and in the days of those kings shall the
God of heaven set up a kingdom
which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left
to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms,
and it shall stand forever.
The prophet lives in the time of Nebuchadnezzar is King over ancient Babylon a world ruling empire. The King has a dream a time when God revealed various things on certain occasions with various mediums dream, visions and so forth.
The king calls chaldeans, soothsayers, magicians wise men and others.
The King wanted them not only to interpret the dream
but to reveal what he had dreamed about.
The wise men said no king has ever demanded or requested such a thing as this you tell us the dream and we will tell you what it means.
This man did not get to be King by being a fool. He knew if they could not tell him the dream then they couldn't tell him the interpretation if they had known the dream. He said you will die if you don't make known to me what I request, I will cut you apart and turn your remains and house into a dung hill.
The captain of the host Arioch received the orders, slay all the wise men, magicians, soothsayers and among them was Daniel. The prophet Daniel agreed to talk and explain the things to Nebuchadnezzar.
The dream was basically what Isaiah saw the kingdom or house of the Lord.
The image was described in detail and the interpretation was given.
Four great empires then the kingdom of the Lord.
Babylonian Empire, Medo-Persian, Grecian, Roman then would come in
this kingdom a kingdom never to be destroyed.
Dan. 2:44 and in the days of those kings shall the God
of heaven set up a kingdom
which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left
to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms,
and it shall stand forever.
In the days of the Roman not Babylonian, Medo-Perisian or Grecian. This stone would grow and take over in the scope of the earth.
The image was struck or smote in the feet. This was the kingdom of the master.
Matthew 16:18 And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter,
and upon
this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail
against
it.
Remember the prophet Daniel seen this kingdom, which is the church.
Dan. 2:44. and in the days of those kings shall the God
of heaven set up a kingdom
which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left
to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms,
and it shall stand forever.
The church of Christ was established in the kingdom of Rome just as was prophesied hundreds of years before perfectly described by the prophets of old.
Daniel says in the days of these Roman kings a kingdom would be established never to destroyed.
Luke 3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius
Caesar, Pontius Pilate being
governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother
Philip
tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch
of Abilene,
The Christ came on the scene in these days of Caesar, which was the title of the Roman emperors. So notice this.
We have the right kingdom reigning, the right kings reining, and these were the days, the word of the Lord came, declaring that Christ was imminent.
Some have read these passages and still erroneously reasoned from this that the church, the house of Jehovah, the kingdom of God was set up in the days of John the Baptist. But in Matthew 3:1-2 dispute this false conclusion.
Matt. 3:1-3 And in those days cometh John the
Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of
Judaea, saying, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
For this
is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
The message of John the Baptist is that the kingdom of heaven is near speaking to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
The kingdom was at hand, near and close yet it had not arrived in John's day of statement. Another fact to consider.
Jesus said in our text Matthew 16:18 On this rock I will build my church.
speaking in future tense yet about six months after John the Baptist had been killed.
Matt. 14:10 and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.
Jesus spoke of his church and kingdom being established in the future. He will build. The man John never was in the church or kingdom.
Matt. 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that
are born of women there hath not
arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is but little in the
kingdom of
heaven is greater than he.
You mean preacher that there were some of greater character than John. Character is not under consideration at all. The character of this devoted dedicated servant of God is not questioned. The fact of the matter Jesus said there was none greater than John. Yet the man John the Baptist died before the church was established.
Well when Jesus sent out his 12 or 70 in the limited commission sure the church had its beginning.
The church was proclaimed to the lost sheep of the house of Israel heard the message the kingdom of Heaven was at hand. Now please here this.
At hand meant the church or kingdom was just around the corner, yet it had not come at that point. They preached the kingdom was brought near or nigh but it was still not there yet.
In the personal ministry of Christ somebody says certainly the church existed then. No remember the Lord preached the kingdom was near but still not there it was at hand but not there yet.
Mark 9:1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There
are some here of them
that stand by, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the kingdom
of
God come with power.
Somebody says preacher you keep using that expression near, at hand, almost there. So why could they have not touched it then if it was at hand, this signified the church was there. No it was not there yet it just won't work it the expression or statement means that by being at hand it was there or already there.
II Tim. 4:6 For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come.
Was Paul already dead then since his departure was at hand?
The church surely had its existence when Christ died on the cross?
Mark 15:43 there came Joseph of Arimathaea, a councillor
of honorable
estate, who also himself was looking for the kingdom of God;
and he boldly went in unto Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.
Jesus crucified and his body sags in death is taken from the cross and
given to Joseph of Arimethea a counselor or honorable distinction himself
also looking for the kingdom went in and asked of Pilate for Jesus.
This man was still looking for the kingdom at the death of Christ. That's correct the church did not come into being at his death.
You mean the church of the new testament was not when the Baptizer John, disciples and Jesus walked and taught, and when Jesus died, then when did the church have its inception and come into being. When was it established?
Some passages will answer this question clearly.
Mark. 9:1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you,
There are some here of them
that stand by, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the kingdom
of
God come with power.
Jesus said his kingdom would come with power and authority in the lifetime of those who heard his words in this assembly.
The kingdom is the church,
Matt. 16:18 And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and
upon this rock I will
build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against
it.
Col. 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 might have the preeminence.
Those who are members of the church are in the kingdom of Christ.
Col. 1:13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness,
and translated us into
the kingdom of the Son of his love;
In the lifetime of those standing there the people who obey the gospel
will be in that kingdom he told them about.
This kingdom would come with power.
The Jehovah's Witnesses predicted the kingdom came in 1844 or 1914 yet nobody standing there was alive.
Some say that the kingdom is still to come. That can't be true I have never heard of anybody living two thousand years.
This message is clear and plain his kingdom would come in the lifetime of his apostles. This is what the Bible says. Unfortunately some people turn to the Bible and don't pay any attention to what it says they go with a theory about what they believe and the go to the Bible to prove their theory. If you do this go to the Bible to prove your doctrine you are dead wrong. Even if you are right you are still dead wrong.
You cannot be motivated by human philosophy and please God.
These people standing before Jesus would see the kingdom come in their lifetime. We can accept what the Lord says or reject it to out destruction.
John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not
my sayings, hath one that judgeth
him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.
In those days in the city of Jerusalem the kingdom was established.
Lk. 24:46-49 and he said unto them, Thus it is written,
that the Christ should suffer,
and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance and
remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations,
beginning from Jerusalem. Ye are witnesses of these things.
And behold,
I send forth the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city,
until
ye be clothed with power from on high.
In the city of Jerusalem the apostles on the day of pentecost would receive and be imbued with power from on high.
They would then preach repentance and remission of sins in the name of Christ to all people.
The apostles tarried in Jerusalem and was filled with the spirit after 40 days of the resurrection.
Acts 1:4-5 and, being assembled together with them,
he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem,
but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, said he, ye heard from
me: For John
indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit
not many days
hence.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, when the Holy
Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall
be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto
the
uttermost part of the earth.
The power of the spirit descended on them in Jerusalem and they began proclaiming the message of repentance and remission of sins in Christ name.
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were
all together
in one place.
The eleven apostles of Jesus in one place received the power from heaven itself to preach the gospel and the church became in existence with this preaching based on the power from on high.
The apostle Peter commanded belief, repentance and remission of sins to those who heard and obeyed the Lord and they that believed and repented and were baptized where added to the church.
Acts 2:36-38 Let all the house of Israel therefore know
assuredly, that God hath made
him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified. Now when
they
heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the
rest
of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? And Peter said
unto them,
Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ
unto
the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:41 They then that received his word were baptized:
and there were added unto
them in that day about three thousand souls.
Acts 2:47 praising God, and having favor with all the people.
And the Lord
added to them day by day those that were saved.
This was the day the church began.
Before this day we have the church referred to in future sense. After the sermon on the day of Pentecost we have the church described as being in existence.
The beginning of the church was rehearsed to Cornelius in Acts 10
The day the church began with power was on pentecost and the Lord added those who obeyed the gospel,
What Isaiah spoke of as being established in the last days was established on the day of Pentecost.
Ac. 2:17-33 And it shall be in the last days, saith God,
I will pour forth of my Spirit upon
all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
And your young
men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams: Yea and
on my
servants and on my handmaidens in those days Will I pour forth of my Spirit;
and
they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heaven above,
And signs on the
earth beneath; Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: The sun shall
be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood, Before the day of the Lord come, That
great and notable day.
And it shall be, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall
be
saved. Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man
approved of
God unto you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him
in the midst of you, even as ye yourselves know; him, being
delivered up by
the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of lawless
men did crucify and slay: whom God raised up, having loosed the pangs
of
death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
For David
saith concerning him, I beheld the Lord always before my face;
For he is on my right
hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue
rejoiced;
Moreover my flesh also shall dwell in hope: Because thou wilt not leave
my soul unto Hades,
Neither wilt thou give thy Holy One to see corruption. Thou madest known
unto me the ways
of life; Thou shalt make me full of gladness with thy countenance.
Brethren, I may say unto you
freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his
tomb is with us unto this
day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn
with an oath to him, that of
the fruit of his loins he would set one upon his throne; he foreseeing
this spake of the resurrection
of the Christ, that neither was he left unto Hades, nor did his flesh see
corruption. This Jesus did
God raise up, whereof we all are witnesses. Being therefore by the
right hand of God exalted, and
having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured
forth this, which ye see
and hear.
We have the inspired preacher, apostle stating that this was the last days. Thus when Isaiah spoke of the house of God being established in the last days we have this reference of time before us. as well as the proper place.
Acts 2:5 Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
The fact that Peter was in Jerusalem at the right time proves this was the establishment date of the church.
The promise of God to Abraham was coming to fulfillment right here at this time and place.
Acts 2:39 For to you is the promise, and to your children,
and to all that are afar off,
even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him.
All nations would flow into this house as is manifest by peter saying the promise was to all even those afar off.
The spiritual kingdom was the saved that the Lord places in his house or kingdom, Acts 2:47.
Just in case there should be any doubt or gap in your mind lets just redo it one more time.
The Lord had said to his apostles.
Luke 24:46-49 he would suffer for his people, this would begin in Jerusalem.
The apostles would preach repentance and remission of sins.
The apostles were told to wait in Jerusalem for power Acts 1:5-8
They were to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea. Samaria unto the uttermost part of the world.
A witness speaks and tells informatively of what they have seen and heard.
The apostles of Christ beginning in Jerusalem would speak of repentance, remission of sins and Christ.
In Acts 2 Peter preached the death burial, resurrection, ascention, coronation of the resurrected Christ.
When we obey the terms of pardon preached by the apostles we are added to the Lord's body the church, Acts 2:47.
The church is built by Christ and purchased with his blood. The
prophets foretold and predicted the church would come.
The church is the kingdom of Christ established on Pentecost in
33 A.D. The church is the saved of God.
Are you a member of his kingdom the church?
CONCLUSION
What a blessing to be a member of the church of Christ. Everything
that was prophesied hundreds of years
before the birth of Christ came true. The church is build upon
the prophesied Christ. The church has her origins in the mind of
God not of man. Are you a member of the body of Christ his church?
The terms of membership is obedience to the gospel of Christ.
Believe in Christ, John 8:24
Repent and turn from sin, Acts 3:19
Confess Christ with the mouth, Romans 10:10
Be baptized for the remission of sins, Acts 2:38
Live faithful unto death, Revelation 2:10
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