JESUS loves the “Church” – It is His “Bride.” Everyone who became part of the church became members of His body – His spiritual body. Christ is the head of the church providing loving care and leadership.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
All members of His church are not yet perfect. They are trying to become one because it is one of the reasons why God called them inside His church. They can do this by submitting and committing themselves to the will of God. Through the church, they are transforming spiritually to become without spot or wrinkle so that they can be holy and without blemish (verses 26-27).
How to become a Member of the Church?
Although everyone is welcome to join, anyone can not just join the church on their own. They must be called first by God or drawn to Christ.
Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
After you are called, you become a member of the church as the “spirit of God dwells in you.”
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Apostle Paul also wrote, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized [immersed, inserted] into one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13). That “one body” is “the body of Christ” (verse 27). Christ’s “body . . . is the church” (Colossians 1:24).
When we believe in the words of God, when we repented of our sins and when we have been baptized for the forgiveness of our sins, then we receive the holy spirit.
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit sets apart or sanctifies the convert as a new child of God. That is why the Bible frequently refers to members of God’s Church as saints.
1Co 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians, “For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2). God’s forgiveness cleanses us of sin and the indwelling of God’s Spirit imparts God’s righteousness. This is how we become saints or spiritual virgins betrothed to Christ.
At the return of Christ, the saints will be raised in a resurrection to eternal life and glory.
1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
The “marriage of the Lamb” to His betrothed Bride will then take place (Revelation 19:7). The Church of God will then become part of the Kingdom of God !
The Mission of the Church
When JESUS build His church, He began it by calling His disciples and other followers. The Greek word here translated “church” is ekklesia. This explains why the English word ecclesiastical means “relating to the church.” This Greek word means essentially “those called out to an assembly”—which indicates that someone has authority over them to summon them to the assembly.
Jesus gave orders to His disciples regarding their mission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Jesus summarized this aspect of the mission another way when He told Peter to “feed My sheep.”
Joh 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
Joh 21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Joh 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Later, Paul reminded the elders to “shepherd the church of God. “
Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
This primarily means to teach and preach the Word of God, stressing the practical application in our daily lives (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:14-17; 4:2).
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2Ti 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
It’s clear from other scriptures and the apostles’ examples that the Church is also commissioned to fulfill Christ’s prophecy that “this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come”
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
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