The Church (The Bride of Christ)
The Church was conceived and birthed to be a witness for Christ in the gravity of times like these. The message of the Church of Jesus Christ must not change, even though things all about it are daily, rapidly changing. Christ has given to His Church an unfailing guarantee that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” Matthew 16:18. God has put within His Church the capacity to endure. It should therefore never dissipate its sacred energies with the trivial things of the ages. The Church is God’s fortress of hope and salvation in a world of dispair and spiritual depravity, God’s masterpiece of faith and God’s marvel of the ages. It is precisely geared to hold a steady course of righteousness throughout the tumultuous times of evil in all ages, without compromise. It is built to last.
Church – The Bride of Jesus Christ
Its Origin, Mission and Destiny
“Now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, an let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; least haply ye be found even to fight against God.” Acts 5:38, 39
“I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine.” John 17:9
“I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.” Isaiah 7:27:3
OUTLINE
I. The Church does not belong to men. It belongs to God. It is God’s special property, purchased at a price far beyond human or material terms (Acts 20:28).
II. God’s Church will survive and will never be overthrown by men, because every weapon formed against it is worthless in God’s sight and shall not prosper (Isaiah 54:17).
III. God knew from the beginning that His Church would constantly and repeatedly face persecution and opposition, but they would serve profitable purposes for making it succeed and grow.
IV. The Church of Jesus Christ has a mission. But it is not yet completed, because it is seeking to reconcile earth with heaven by urging men to make peace with God through Jesus Christ before it is eternally too late.
V. There are several important facts and truisms every Christian ought to know about the Church, without guessing or supposing.
VI. The Church is safe, and shall always be safe, even in an evil world like this.
Every Church that wears the Name of Christ is obligated to make good its pledge to Jesus Christ, to faithfully perform its duties, and proclaim the Glorious Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
