WHAT ABOUT THE CHURCH?
As Christ's "body," the church is the exclusive means through which Christ expresses Himself in this world. For this reason, the church is called "the fullness of him who fills everything in every way" (Eph 1:23). Here is where Jesus deposits His graces. Here is where He unveils the truth.
The church is called Christ's "body" because of the communication that takes place between Jesus and His people--like the head to the human body. This is wonderfully expressed in the second chapter of Colossians. While the point in this passage is the failure of some to live in the vitality of this communication, a significant point is made by the Holy Spirit. "He (the person relying on things other that the Savior, verse 18) has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow" (2:19). This should not surprise us--that people, as part of the body of Christ, are connected to Jesus. We were baptized into His death (Rom 6:3-4), raised to sit together with Him in heavenly places (Eph 2:6), and Christ IN us is the hope of glory (Col 1:27). The BODY OF CHRIST, therefore, consists of those in vital connection with Christ Jesus. They are the people in whom He dwells, and through whom He expresses Himself.
Another view of the church is expressed in First Timothy 3:15. Here the Spirit moves Paul to instruct young Timothy of the importance of our conduct in the body of Christ. "If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, THE PILLAR AND FOUNDATION OF THE TRUTH." The church, then, is the appointed custodian of the truth of God. The members comprise God's household, and are strictly charged with protecting and propagating the truth of God.
Concerning Christ's body, we are told emphatically, "There is ONE BODY" (Eph 4:4). There is no room for conjecture or philosophizing on this point. Those who come into Christ are made members of that body. As it is written, "Just as each of us has ONE BODY with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form ONE BODY, and each member belongs to all the others" (Rom 12:4-5). Again, it is written, "who are many, are ONE BODY" (1 Cor 10:17). The Holy Spirit Himself puts people into this body. "For we were all baptized by one Spirit into ONE BODY--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink" (1 Cor 12:13).
Throughout history, men have argued among themselves about the physical identity of the church. They have sought to equate "one body" with one true and recognizable religious organization. But these are not at all the same. Religious organizations are of men. The "one body" is a work of God. Men have even sought to identify a PATTERN for the church in the Scriptures--some overt means of recognizing "the one true church." Such men have miserably missed the point. The point of recognition is not an objective for men, but of God and Christ. Christ has "received us to the glory of God" (Rom 15:7). That Divine recognition is what makes the church, THE CHURCH. Without it, only a religious shell exists--pattern or no pattern.
People who say "We are THE church," have simply not told the truth. That is not an affirmation to be made by men, for their vision is too small. At the very best, they are "members of the body," for which they are to give thanks. But at no point is an earthly organization brought to the point of being "the one true church," the "true new testament church," or any of the other terms that appeal to men's pride. what is more, if Jesus is not working and expressing Himself through them, they have not held to the Head, and are not part of the body at all.
The church, or body of Christ consists of the people Jesus shepherds, bringing them to God and glory (John 10:14-27; 1 Pet 3:18; Heb 2:10). Those who are not being guided and succored by Him are not part of the church, regardless of their profession, or subscription, to sectarian requirements. Those who are being shepherded and nourished by Jesus ARE part of His body, even though they may not meet with the approval of supposed religious authorities. If Jesus recognizes and dwells within the individuals, they are part of His body. If He does not, they are not.
There are individual churches, or bodies of believers. They are not the whole body, but are representatives of the entire body. The Bible calls this being an "example of the believers" (1 Tim 4;12). The whole body is what gives them their significance. They are not what makes the "one body" what it is. This is because the body of Christ consists of those who have passed on as well as those who remain in this world. This is a family with members "in heaven and earth" (Eph 3;15), with the greater part having passed on before us. We presently have fellowship with these departed ones, although it is better comprehended by them than by us. We have, the Spirit says, come to "the spirits of just men made perfect," as distinguished from all those whose names are written in heaven (Heb 12:23). Let it be clear that individual groups of believers have the same character as the whole body--even those who are absent from the body and present with the Lord. They are not an entity of themselves, but a part of the whole.
These are but introductory thoughts on a large and profitable subject. They are designed to assist us in fulfilling the mandate of our Lord concerning the appraisal of things. "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment" (John 7:24). Those words are especially needful in our assessment of those professing the name of the Lord. We will not look for a visible pattern to identify them. We are too easily deceived by such appearances. if you do not know how else to judge a matter, then your first order of business is to learn how to do so.
PRAYER POINT: Father, through jesus Christ, grant me grace to view Your church as You do.
-- Monday: TIME IS THE GREAT TESTER --