Posted on 03/27/2021 5:55:51 AM PDT by metmom
Paul warned Timothy that a time was coming when some of God’s people “will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
History records that this happened just as Paul had predicted. After the apostles died—and the generation that sat under their teaching had passed away—a conspiracy of wicked error flooded the church. Believers were seduced by strange doctrines, and science and philosophy eroded the truth of Christ’s gospel.
Consider what Paul said of the purity of Christ’s church: “Christ…loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27).
God’s great concern is not about the apostate church. Even apostasies will not be able to kill or destroy the church of Jesus Christ. In spite of these problems, God has everything under control, and his mystical, invisible, overcoming church is not dying. Rather, the river of the Holy Spirit is flowing into the “dead sea” of apostate churches, exposing iniquity and lukewarmness. And it’s causing new life to spring up.
Those who are turned from the dead, lifeless churches may be but just a remnant. Nevertheless, Jesus declared: “The fields are ripe for harvest. And there is still time for laborers to go forth.” Nowhere in the Bible does it say that the Holy Spirit has fled the scene, leaving behind a withered harvest. God’s Spirit is still at work, convicting, wooing and drawing the lost to Christ, including those in apostasy.
The cloud of heavenly witnesses would tell us not to look for judgment, not to focus on “holding the fort.” It is still the day of the Holy Spirit, who is waiting to fill every willing vessel.
God still loves his church, blemishes and all!
The Return ping
Yes - but what we call the church and the Church of Jesus are not the same thing. Many churches are teaching many different - anything but salvation - and they will blow away like chaff on the threshing floor.
But the Real Church will suffer much for the Gospel.
Yes, we don’t see the church as God does.
What’s the phrase about the gates of hell will not prevail or something to that effect.
Good word. Right on.
I believe there is no Bible word more misunderstood, more misinterpreted, more misrepresented and with more counterfeits than the word “church”, ekklesia in Greek.
Speaking to a group of pastors years ago, friend Wayne Jacobsen asked, “Jesus said He would build His church. Ok, it’s been over 2,000 years now. How do you think He’s doing?”
Silence.
“Do you think that what He was referring to with the word “church” might be different from what we think of when we use the word?” (not an exact quote)
He is building a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle, who will soon, hopefully, become His bride - who has “made herself ready” for the wedding. What a glorious day that will be.
And He - not the church - will receive all the glory.
Matthew 16:17,18
17 And Jesus answered him, )“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, (E)you are Peter, and (F)on this rock[a] I will build my church, and (G)the gates of (H)hell[b] shall not prevail against it
The church is built on the only Rock on which it can stand, and that is Jesus Himself, and no other man.
Amen, Metmom!
Amen. There is no other Rock.
Every stone even every pebble (member faithing in Jesus as Savior) has God’s seed abiding in his/her spirit 9 1John 3:9). Who is great enough to defeat God? The fallen angel, satan, thinks he is powerful enough, but also knows his time is about over; satan’s duplicitous mind is his greatest weakness.
Why did Christ give Peter the keys in the next verse?
Why didn’t Jesus .....just keep them?
“Why did Christ give Peter the keys in the next verse?
Why didn’t Jesus .....just keep them?”
If you study when the church, as you and I think of it, began, it will give you great understanding as to what Christ Jesus gave to Peter. That, and knowing to which/what kind of kingdom Christ Jesus is referring to in that passage.
Ah, so Bill Gates IS in the Bible!
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