THE BRIDE YOU CAN KISS – Part 4

In the previous article I asked you not to miss the glory and the simplicity of visible Church revealed to us in Revelation 1. Christ walks among the churches as Lord and risen Savior. Here on planet earth, in time and space, our Redeemer and Master glorifies the Churches.  As He once tabernacle among the people of the 1^st Century, now the risen King tabernacles among His local visible Churches.

The New Testament is not silent about the glory of the visible, local Church.  Notice how the Scripture attributes such grandeur to this so-called institution that often is denigrated and dismissed.

1. Each local Church was obtained by God with His own blood (Paul addressing the elders of Ephesus in Acts 20:28)
2. Each local Church is self-governing under the lordship of Jesus Christ, regulated by His Word, who walks between the churches (Revelation 1:12ff).  Christ holds the “messengers” to each Church in His right hand (Revelation 1:16).    
3. Each local Church is indwelt by the Third Person of the Trinity making it the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16-17) and there are serious consequences to anyone who does violence to this Temple.
4. Each local Church is set apart wholly in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2).
5. Each local Church is to be led by under-shepherds: Elders and Deacons (Philippians 1:1) who will give account to for the souls of its Members (Hebrews 13:17) and whose members are to show obedience and submission.
6. Each local Church is to be guarded and cared for by its under-shepherds (Acts 20:28-31).
7. Each local Church is comprised of Members from every class and culture; male and female (Galatians 3:28) who are all equal and one in Christ.
8. Each local Church is responsible for what is taught in the Church (e.g., Galatians 1:6; 3:1) and is responsible for the discipline of sinning members (Matthew 18:15ff).
9. Each local Church Member is responsible for the ministry needs of one another (see the 59 “one another’s” in the New Testament.) such that each member is growing in their faith and increasingly loving one another (2 Thessalonians 1:3).
10. Each local Church is an outpost/embassy of Heaven here on earth (i.e., Philippians 1:27).
11. Each local Church is identified as 1) One Body, 2) One Spirit, 3) One Hope, 4) One Lord, 5) One faith, 6) One baptism and 7) One God and Father. (Ephesians 4:1ff).
12. Each local Church is to be examples of imitating Christ and following the Apostolic doctrine with joy in the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 1:6). 
13. The local Church is the “a pillar and buttress of the truth.” (1 Timothy 3:15, ESV), charged with promoting and protecting the Truth.

Each one of these characteristics and responsibilities is applied to the local Church. Chuck Colson wrote, “The life function of [the local church] is to love the God who created it - to care for others out of obedience to Christ, to heal those who hurt, to take away fear, to restore community, to belong to one another, to proclaim the Good News while living it out. The church is the invisible made visible.

With God’s help, let us consider some implications to this in the next article.

 

THE BRIDE YOU CAN KISS – Part 1

THE BRIDE YOU CAN KISS – Part 2

THE BRIDE YOU CAN KISS – Part 3