The true Church.
In “the making of a church”, we must first start with Jesus Christ. He is the head. He gave of himself to the church.
1. The head of the church. Jesus Christ!
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
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.
In their carefulness to be diligent, they have cultivated diligence in their soul. diligence in keeping sin at bay, from creeping into their lives!
In Humility they have found, a peace that pride and arrogancy cannot co-exist with or conquer, but pride wants to rob them of their peace. Following Christ in humility, will always put pride to flight!
Peace with God, removes the stress and anxiety that our daily lives are bombarded with. It isn’t that stress won’t be there, but it will be under the limits and control of the Holy Spirit.
A demanding person, is under the control of pride or some other form of darkness, for pride or its counterparts, is the opposite of humility. Humility never demands, pride does.
Unkindness, dominate and controlling attitudes are the outbreaks of Sin. The bible calls the nature of sin: carnality. A true Christian has carnality removed and crucified at the cross, and is filled with the spirit of God. Gods people are a very forgiving people and long suffering. They will encourage and standby every sinner they meet, to help them on to God. There is never any Big me/little you. Never any cliques. No second-class members. The ground is level at the foot of the cross, and level in the life and spirit of every child of God.
A saved person, not yet sanctified, will have the Holy spirits guiding and leading in their lives. but as long as the old man of sin (carnality) is working from the inside, the enemy within, he will cause a lot of trouble. The only cure for the nature of sin, is to get a sanctified (filled with the holy spirit) heart.
The church of Jesus is a spiritual church, not made with hands, built upon the solid rock of Jesus Christ. Christ is the head of the church and the chief cornerstone. God has a people, he will always have a people, he will never have a denomination. But those whose names are written in the lambs’ book of life. God knows who they are, he knows where they are, and he knows what they are made of! God knows the plans he has for them, and he has a purpose for every one of them.
Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Note: this passage is referring to the kingdom of God in heaven.
Who is there?
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Note: “which are written in heaven”: those whose names are written in the lambs’ book of life.
Revelations 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Note: The Lamb: just as a pure and spotless Lamb was used in the Old Testament, To be sacrificed for the remission of sins, even so, Jesus is referred to as the Lamb of God, who was sacrificed for us on the cross to take away our sins! He too was pure and spotless without sin. This is why he is referred to as the Lamb of God!
The “Bride of Christ” is this spiritual church.
Note: in a marriage, the two are considered to have become one. Man and wife. They share the Same name, home, life, family belongings and so forth. This is a type used in scripture, to explain when the Holy spirit ( which is the spirit of Christ,) enters into our hearts, we have become one with Jesus! That’s why the bible often refers to the saints as the “bride of Christ”, they have become one and share in the same Heaven, food, family, the same spirit, and the same nature as Christ! This also helps us to see, being saved is like being promised to Jesus, and being filled with the holy Spirit is becoming one with Jesus! However, this unity does not make us the bride of God. God is the father, not the groom. When Jesus comes to take his bride away, (in our death or in the rapture) He takes us to his Father’s house. (heaven) where we will live in his kingdom, under his domain! Once in the father’s house, there is a magnificent feast waiting for us!
The bible calls this, “Marriage supper of the Lamb!” When Jesus enters his father’s house, with his Bride, God has a Supper waiting. Jesus himself will serve us as a waiter! This follows the ancient Jewish marriage customs.
Verse 8 says” And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Notice in the Jewish ceremony, the father comes out to view the guest, and the bride. Every person invited is given a wedding garment. Spotless and clean. Many times, a beggar, or hostile guest will sneak into the dinner. But he will not have a wedding garment, like those who came in with the groom: Christ. When the Father sees him, the man is apprehended, and cast out of the Fathers kingdom. This represents the great judgment bar of God, many will seek to enter in, but will be cast out! And the casting out is that person being cast into hell. That’s why other verses that refer to this rejection, also say “where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Where the fire is never quenched and the worm dieth not”. The fire is hell, the worm is their conscience.
This is identical to the customs of the Jewish people for centuries! There are many more parallel examples in the complete marriage ceremony, but this is what the verses below are referring to.
Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife (the invisible church) hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Note: the call to the marriage supper of the lamb, is the call to repentance and salvation.
Those who refuse to repent and get saved, are like the uninvited guest who tried to sneak in, who did not have a wedding garment. The wedding garment is the righteousness of the saints, it is made righteous by the blood of Jesus at the point of salvation! But they expected to get into heaven, with their filthy clothes of sin. But they were cast out into outer darkness, which represents hell.
What happens to the true Christians, who lived a holy and righteous life?
Rev 5:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
Note: the number given here is so extreme, there is no word in any language or numerical equivalent to be found.
Jesus is the head of the church!
Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Who is the head of that church? Jesus himself!
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Who is the congregation?
The invisible church in heaven!
Rev 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev 7:10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all
This congregation is the gathering together of those whose names are written in the lambs’ book of life. These are the true Christians!
There is an eternal difference between those who:
- call themselves Christians, but don’t live up to it.
- Go to church, and think they can still sin, and go to heaven.
- Try to get to heaven by works and sincerity.
- Consider themselves to be better than others. self-righteous.
- Trust in their emotions and feeling to get to heaven.
- Know everything there is to know about the bible. But are not saved.
- Are very strict and conservative, thinking that will get them to heaven.
- Trusty in money, success, or achievements, to get to heaven.
- Trust in churches, personalities, doctrines or religion to get them into heaven.
- Think little sins are ok.
- Call sin by some other name, and think it will work.
- Make excuses for their sin, and try to justify themselves.
This is a partial list of the uninvited guest, who thought to be a part of the marriage supper, but were cast out!
The list can go on and on, but the Bible says there shall no unclean thing (sin) shall enter heaven!
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
This raises a question! how do you get your name in the lambs’ book of life? The answer is as old as the bible itself! Get saved and stop sinning! Live the life of the righteous, and you will spend eternity with the righteous! The wicked will spend eternity in hell with the wicked! What makes you wicked? SIN!
(Let’s get back to the invisible church of Heaven!)
When Christ is the head of the church:
- The messages have power!
- The songs have the glory!
- The prayer time is fellowship with Christ!
- The fellowship is divine inspiration!
- People can get saved!
- Gods’ presence can be felt.
- Lives are being transformed
- There is love among the brethren
- The alter is lined by seekers of God!
- The wicked world is not there, or any of it foolishness!
Time is eternal! You have a service that last an hour and a half, but it seems like 30 minutes and Nobody even cares! We came here to have Church! Not a timed chorography practice! Praise God for Liberty in service!
An eternal meeting in Heaven with God, Jesus, The Holy spirit, the angels, and the saints of all the ages!
Imagine a church service in heaven around the throne!
2. the requirements: Faith and obedience.
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Trusting in God’s word! The proof of trusting Gods word is when we obey it!
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (Faith without works is dead!). it’s like saying, “I know all about it, but don’t have the power to live it!” knowledge won’t save you. Thinking you “believe”, won’t save you! The devils “believe”! BUT! Obedience to ALL of Gods word, will set you on a path, that leads to heaven!
3. Holiness! In life, practice, spirit and experience!
Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Luk 1:75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
Rom 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
2Co 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, ( our former way of sinful living.) which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
4. The membership!
Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Note: MEMBERSHIP IS NOT CHURCH MEMBERSHIP! ITS MEMBERSHIP IN THE LAMBS BOOK OF LIFE!
Here we see the unseeable, The invisible church of God! The congregation of the righteous! The pure and the holy assembled in heaven! This is Gods church. Whose name is written in the lamb’s book of life.
Notice: their acceptance into Gods invisible church, is not by church voting or church acceptance. But Salvation and sanctification! Some have said to me,” if you find the perfect church, don’t join it, you will mess it up. “But my answer to them is “your too late! I already found it and joined up! The invisible church of God.”
It seems like the modern churches, have accepted jealousies, Pride, materialism, worldliness, prejudice, cliques, personality followers, peer pressure tactics, nepotisms and much more, to the extent that questioning them brings you under attack from everyone! From the pulpit to the pew, we hear: “we are not perfect, just trying to make it to heaven. We all have our quirks, we must love one another and ignore the glaring inconsistencies”! but this teaching is more fitting for a hell-bound sinning religion, than a true church! The true church is a holy church and a pure church! A LIFE OF RIGHTEOUSSNESS! Not sin!
The True people of God, build their life and practice, upon the complete word of God, not a denominational doctrine. Or an emotional fellowship.
Pure because, it lives with-out sin. Saved from sin, delivered from sin, victorious over sin, and walking with God. Transformed by the spirit of God, through Jesus Christ. Romans chapter 6!
Note: In a marriage relationship, man and wife come together. They bare children. And raise a family.
When a sinner gets saved. He becomes part of what’s referred to as a child of God. When that child gets filled with the spirit of Christ, he becomes referred to as the bride of Christ. Christ doesn’t marry children! He marries a mature woman, the church triumphed!
As a bride of Christ, he becomes one with Christ, by the indwelling spirit. This relationship, bares off-spring! That off-spring is referred to as the “fruit of the spirit.” You cannot get the fruit of the spirit, without first being filled with the spirit. This spiritual experience bears “record of proof” by the fruit of the spirit in our lives. Galatans 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Just as children are the results of our marriage, and often, we can see ourselves in them, even so, the fruit of the spirit, is the proof of our oneness with Christ, and Christ can be seen in us, by his fruits of the spirit.
We can also see this in the Virgin birth of Christ. Mary was holy and pure before God. The power of the holy spirit overshadowed her; the holy spirit created the “seed” of God in Mary. The results were “Christ the first born of God”. The likeness of the father was clearly seen in Christ. Also, the spirit of God was upon Christ, and the fruits of his works, were proof of his relationship with the father. The experience of the Virgin birth in Mary, is a type of the Christians experience of being filled with the spirit, and bearing the fruits of the spirit, that clearly testify of our relationship to the father!
5. The experience
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Its hard to say someone is a Christian who can’t live up to the experience. Many things can be said or done to make room for those glaring inconsistencies, but the bottom line will always be the words of Jesus. “A tree is known by its fruit. “
Mat 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
Luk 6:44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
Men and devils can pretend and lie. But the witness of the spirit cannot be copied. The absence of the fruits of the spirit is a clear sign of what the tree is not. If one cannot live without sinning, even if its once a year, then the results are self announcing.
- Jn 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
- 1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
- Jn 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
- 1Jn 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
- 1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
- 1Jn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
- 1Jn 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
The admonition we give here, is paramount and eternal. It is not others that will keep us out of heaven, neither will it be God. But by our own action and decision, that will be our executioner!
- Luk 13:22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
- Luk 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
- Luk 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
- Mat 7:21 Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
- Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
- Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.