The Church

December 10, 2018

The Church

There are many Religious people who go to a building to practise their man-made traditions or to prosper in false doctrine. Yet, it is only through believing in Jesus and sound Biblical doctrine that we may be born again by His Spirit and enter into His Church where we are seated with Him in heavenly places. God YHVH has told us that we are His Temple, if the Spirit of Christ dwells in us, and that He does not dwell in a temple made with hands. Therefore, many err in going to a building that is empty of His truth and of His Spirit.

John 14:15-21 KJV — If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Defining A "Church"

Most people today believe the "Church" refers to a building where people go to see God or worship Him, or fellowship. However, let's look at what the Bible says.

Matthew 16:18 KJV - And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

This says upon upon Apostle Peter Jesus would build His church, meaning I believe His body of believers.

The word "church" in the above passage is translated from the following word:

Strong's Number: G1577
Original Word: ἐκκλησία
Transliterated Word: ekklēsia

Strong's Definition - From a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564; a calling out that is (concretely) a popular meeting especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both): - assembly church

Be A Living Stone

Unless someone is born again by the Spirit and their teachings match the Bible, and they show the fruits of the Holy Spirit in their life (Galatians 5), then they may not be a true member of the body of Christ but rather an imposter, a tare among the wheat. We see in the Four Gospels that Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day, and called them children of the devil.

We cannot allow false religions, traditions of men, heresies, lukewarm churches, or anything else separate us from a true relationship with our Creator (Jesus - Colossians 1). We all have the ability to open up a Bible, learn for ourselves and pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit! Hallelujah!

* here we see that Apostle Peter, who is supposed to be the founder of His Church is telling believers that they are living stones who make up the Temple of Yahweh if we look to Jesus who is the Head Cornerstone and example of how we ought to walk:

1 Peter 2:5-7 KJV - Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. [6] Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. [7] Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

The Chief Cornerstone

Apostle Peter is comparing the members of the church to the literal stones that make up the church building. We are each living and walking stones that make up the "church." Jesus is the Corner Stone that set the way for us to follow, and the Apostles also make up the foundation. The Catholic Church likes to say that all people must go through them because of Aposlte Peter, yet they do not teach us to follow Christ and have a personal relationship with Messiah.

* Apostle Paul also makes the analogy that we ourselves are the temple of God, if His Spirit of dwells in us:

2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV - And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them ; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

A Body, Not A Building

In short, I believe the Church of Christ are the called out ones, the members of the body of Christ, and not a religious building. Let us examine these metaphors for the "church."

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 KJV - For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. [13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. [14] For the body is not one member, but many.

Apostle Paul compared the Church members to members of a body, and that all have our own callings, gifts, and ministries, but we are one in the Body of Christ, with Christ Jesus as our head that directs us by His Spirit in us. This body transcends the bounds of cultures, ethnicities, races, political Ideologies, genders, and is available to anyone who believes the good news of Yeshua Jesus the Messiah, turns away from their sins, and follows Him!

Corrupt "Churches"

Many church buildings today are dead, meaning the Holy Spirit is not flowing their because of dead religion, worldliness, traditions of men, hypocrisy, false gospels, heresies, and the apathy of the congregation. Sometimes it is better to just separate ourselves and study the Bible and seek a true walk with Jesus rather than become leavened as a little leaven leavens the whole lump according to Apostle Paul:

1 Corinthians 5:7-13 KJV - Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: [8] Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. [9] I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: [10] Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. [11] But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. [12] For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? [13] But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

If the "Church" that we are attending is not holding to sound doctrine, and Biblical repentance, then we must depart from them in my opinion, so that we are not defiled with them.

Old Testament Tabernacle

In the Old Testament (Tanakh), the Most High YHVH Elohim would meet with Moses on a mountain, or in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle of Moses in order to teach the children of Israel.

God never wanted a building to dwell in yet King David wanted to build a Temple for God, and so God allowed David's son Solomon to build the first Temple in the promised Land of Israel, which would eventually house the Promised Messiah (2 Samuel 7):

Acts 7:44-50 KJV — Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things.

Elohim, the Holy One of Israel, only met with the children of Israel in the Tabernacle of Moses and the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem.. His true dwelling place is Heaven, yet His Spirit is all over the earth and cannot be contained to a building made by hands.

The Catholic Church tries to cut off the direct communion with Elohim (God) by the blood of Yeshua (Jesus) through the Holy Spirit. The Papacy attempts to severe the personal relationship with our LORD Jesus and make us go through their vain traditions and idolatry stemming from pagan Babylonian times.

Entering Into His Presence

Do not be decieved, we each have the ability to enter into the Holy of Holies, which is I believe the presence of God through prayer by belief in Yeshua Jesus and His blood atonement sacrifice on the Cross:

Ephesians 2:4-7 KJV - But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, [5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) [6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: [7] That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 10:4-22 KJV - For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. [5] Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: [6] In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. [7] Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. [8] Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein ; which are offered by the law; [9] Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. [10] By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all . [11] And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: [12] But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; [13] From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. [14] For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. [15] Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, [16] This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; [17] And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. [18] Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. [19] Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, [20] By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; [21] And having an high priest over the house of God; [22] Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Under the Law of Moses, the High Priest would enter into the Holiest Place of the Tabernacle by the blood of animals, yet we each can enter into the Holiest place by the blood of Yeshua (Jesus). Please see my article:

• Holy of Holies