The Church -is forever December 16, 2012

There are several passages in the Bible that talk about the church, not the structure or the building, but what the church really is –people.  That is often something that we get a little confused about.  When we talk about going to church we often mean we are going to a building.  But when the Bible speaks of going to church it is talking about being with the people of God, those who have given their lives to Jesus Christ and come together to worship their Lord.

And this building is something that is temporary, but this people is forever.  Did you ever stop to think about that?  Well, maybe we have in some idealistic, mystical way, but the reality is that the body, the church, the people are forever.  Last week we look mankind, that we are created beings.  We are made by, designed by, breathed into by and created in the image of the immortal incredible, eternal God, the great I AM.  And we are created with eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3). 

When we accept the gift of life offered by God through Jesus Christ, and become His Child, we become part of something much larger than ourselves.  Yes, we have that personal relationship, but much, much more, we have a relationship with all others who have become part of the family of God as well. 

This morning I would like to look at 4 passages that give us a picture of becoming and being a part of this body which not only exists here on earth, but will last into eternity.

First is the familiar passage of Matthew 1618 where Jesus says, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”  There is a sense of permanency, lastingness in this statement.  The focus for me it this, I will build my church.  The church, the people who make up the church, are Christ’s.  We are His sheep, his people, his friends, his own.  We are His church and the strong implication here and the definite statement elsewhere is that nothing will take it from him.  He means to keep his church.  Elsewhere we read that what the Father has given to Jesus, he will not let go of.  And then in John 14, Jesus give this beautiful image of his going to prepare a place for us.

John 14:1-4.  I have spoken on this passage several times but I wanted for us to recapture this image of our being the bride of Christ.  The hearers of this statement, as Jewish people, would instantly know that Jesus is talking about the bridegroom and the bride.  The bridegroom would go away from the bride and prepare a house for her.  When everything was ready he would come back for her.  He used this image in several parable including the one about the 10 virgins in Matthew 25 (1-10).

I want for us to be clear here on the image of the church being the bride of Christ.  This image is carried on by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 5 where he talks about the church being the bride of Christ.  Let me read verses 23-25, 32.  This image of the bride, the wife of Christ, if you will, is a powerful image for our understanding the relationship between Christ and the church.  yes he is the head, but there is also an intimate love, a deep joy, a pride and lifting of his church.  He will build his church.  he will come back to take us to be with him.  But capture this, He will present us before the throne of the Father!

When the bridegroom goes to get his bride he brings her to his father.  Our tradition has the father of the bride bringing the bride to the bridegroom.   So see the difference.  See the pride, see the power of this image of the groom proudly, reverently, with joy taking this radiant love of his life –the love he has so much of he overflows with it.  The love he has so much of that he even gave his life for her, for us, his bride!  He presents her as radiant!  Without stain or wrinkle or other blemish.  IN large part because he has died to remove the stains, he has given his blood to remove the blemishes.  He has given his body to smooth out the wrinkles. 

Back to John 14.  Verse 6-7.  The only way to the father is through the son.  The only way to the Father is to be presented as the bride.  And he will then take us, his church, his people, his sheep, his bride , verse 3, to be with him –permanently. 

To me it is an awesome, incredible thing.  The church, the bride, with the bridegroom, presented spotless, fully cleansed and perfect because of the groom, by the groom to the Father. 

And now lets turn to Revelation 21:1-4.  Did you catch it?  So often we look at the final part of that section –no more tears, no more death or mourning or sorrow.  But note the context –The bride presented.  The church is something that is made by Christ, for Christ to be with Christ forever!

And how we live together as the body here on earth is important –because it is something that will go on.  We are created by God and we are saved by Christ and we are united by the Spirit into the body of Christ.  It is his design, His plan, His church.  And as His church, he brings us to be a part of it not just here on earth, but into eternity.  Yes, the church, this body of believers past present and future (should the Lord tarry long), will carry on into eternity.

Being the body of Christ which will continue into eternity has some very serious implications for us today. First, are we actively involved and giving and doing all we can for the body?  Paul challenges us in Ephesians 4, just after the part of being one body, that we all do our part.  Can we do our part is we are not a part?

Second, it means we are to be living in the unity and oneness He brings –that by implication being one body entails.  We know what happens when part of our body begins to fight another –cancer, disease, -it fails, it falls apart, it dies.  The body, to be healthy, is given some serious instructions.  Let me focus just for a moment on something we are familiar with –the one anothers.

            Over 50 times we read in Scritpure the term “one another.”  Some are repeated and all the more to pay attention too, like the last one I will share, given in the NT.  Most of them are in the letters of Paul, but we also find them in the words of Jesus and the letters of John and Peter and the writer of Hebrews.  Let’s just list a few of them.

1.     “…Be at peace with each other.” (Mark 9:50)
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love…” (Romans 12:10)
“…Honor one another above yourselves. (Romans 12:10)
“Live in harmony with one another…” (Romans 12:16)
“…Stop passing judgment on one another.” (Romans 14:13)
“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you…” (Romans 15:7)
“…Instruct one another.” (Romans 15:14)
1 “Greet one another with a holy kiss…” (Romans 16:16)
“…Have equal concern for each other.” (I Corinthians 12:25)
“…Serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13)
“Carry each other’s burdens…” (Galatians 6:2)
“…Be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Ephesians 4:2)
“Be kind and compassionate to one another…” (Ephesians 4:32)
“…Forgiving each other…” (Ephesians 4:32)
“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.” (Ephesians 5:19)
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21)
“Bear with each other…” (Colossians 3:13)
“…Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.” (Colossians 3:13)
“Teach…[one another]” (Colossians 3:16)
“…Admonish one another (Colossians 3:16)
“…Build each other up…” (I Thessalonians 5:11)
“Encourage one another daily…” Hebrews 3:13)
“…Pray for each other.” (James 5:16)

2.     . “…Live in harmony with one another…” (I Peter 3:8)
“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (I Peter 4:9)
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others…” (I Peter 4:10)
“…Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another…”(I Peter 5:5)
“…Love one another.” (I John 3:11)
“…Love one another.” (I John 3:23)
“…Love one another.” (I John 4:7)
“…Love one another.” (I John 4:11)
“…Love one another.” (I John 4:12)

3.      “…Love one another.” (II John 5)

4.      “…Love one another…” (John 13:34)
“…Love one another…” (John 13:34)
“…Love one another…” (John 13:35)
“…Love one another…” (John 15:12)
“…Love one another” (John 15:17)

5.      “…Love one another…” (Romans 13:8)

6.              Of these is reflective of the nature and character of God.  Each of these will be carried on in eternity as a part of His Kingdom.  They bring unity, peace, harmony.  Each of these prepares us in how it will be in eternity. 

7.               

8.              And third, the church keeps its focus on one and one alone –Jesus.  We are his church, that he envisioned, His flock that he is the Great Shepherd for, his bride that he has washed with His blood, His body that he has bought with a price.  He is the head, he is our Lord, He s our ruler, He is the son of God, the one we are to cherish, honor and hold in highest adoration.  Now and forever more.

We are His church, and as His church we can be assured that He is able to work what he will. He is able to build it, use it and move it as He will.  As His church He is able to do so much more than we can ever ask or imagine in it and through it.  Here in this little corner of Canada, we may think, oh the church is not doing much.  But look at the church –THE CHURCH, and see that He is doing so much.  IN Africa, Asia, the Middle East, around the world he is building His church.  Do not forget, it is His church, his body, His bride and he will present it as a beautiful bride to the Father.  Oh, he is able to meet our concerns, our needs, and make us what he wants u to be as his church and as his people.

This closing thought.  Seeking to live together, serve together, grow together, worship together, love, forgive, care for and live in harmony together is of great value here on earth because, well, we will be together for a very long time hereafter!

Beloved, love one another.