By Bill Mosley
The church referred to in the title is the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Church He established during His earthly ministry. It is His church by construction, instruction, and preservation. Jesus is the Head, the Teacher, and the Keeper. It is His because He constructed it. "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matt. 16:18) It is His church because He instructed it. "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matt. 4:19) Jesus continued to instruct them from the upper room to Gethsemane. (John 14-16) He instructed them to continue to instruct others according to the doctrine He had given. It is Christ that promised preservation for them. "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." (Matt. 28:18-20)
The perpetuity or permanent continuance of the Lord's church is based upon the promises of the Lord. Man's ingenuity and spiritual inventions to enhance church operations may well be the greatest threat to the spiritual prosperity of the Lord's church. Contraptions and devices as those hatched in the mind of frail humanity are the very means whereby many souls are directed away from the Savior and to self, and ultimately to an eternal hell.
Some decry the church as a failure today to meet the needs of society. However, the Lord has never and will never fail the church He established. It is true that the Lord's church could do more to reach the lost. More emphasis on and loyalty to biblical missions and faithfulness in service is surely needed. Nor will the church fail, of which Jesus is founder and Head because of His divine promises. It is feeble, floundering, fabricating humanity that has failed the Lord. Regardless of the maligning assertions from the world or the shortcomings of men, the Lord's church will still be in operation when He returns. Jesus asked this question: "When the son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8) Because of His promises the obvious answer is, yes, He will though scarce it may be. What is the faith He will be looking for? It will be the doctrine He taught when He first instituted His church during His ministry on earth. It will be the moral conviction and the reliance upon Christ for salvation through the preaching of the gospel. The gospel He instructed them to preach continues to be the power of God unto salvation. (Rom. 1:16) Jesus empowered His church by the coming of "another Comforter" that would abide with them forever. (John 14:16) This happened when "the day of Pentecost was fully come." (Acts 2:1) His church was "in one accord" and the "Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:47) He will be looking for the power of the Holy Spirit functioning in His church when He returns.
There is first a need to briefly explain the difference between the family of God and the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The family of God is made up of all the saved. Those redeemed by the "precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:.." (1 Pet. 1:19) In establishing His supper with His church in the upper room, Jesus' blood is represented by the fruit of the vine as the "blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matt. 26:28)
To be a member of the family of God a person must be born again. (John 3:16) In this chapter Jesus explained the spiritual birth to Nicodemus. Even as the natural man is on earth through a physical birth so also is the spiritual man in the family of God by the spiritual birth. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:6) It sounds foolish to say that a person not born of the flesh could not understand physical life. It sounds just as foolish to the lost when talking of the spiritual birth. It is impossible for the natural man to properly discern the spiritual birth until he has experienced it. "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor. 2:14)
Being saved through repentance and faith in Christ by His blood places a person in the family of God. But this does not place them in the Lord's church. Every organization known have certain rules that must be followed to become a member. From secret organizations to the local co-op there are fixed requirements that must be addressed if one is to be a member. Most will go to great lengths, with no qualms about the requirements, to join man-made organizations. When it comes to membership in the Lord's true church, many stumble and refuse to follow guidelines given by the Lord. Yet the church the Lord promised to build must follow His instructions if they are to own the promise of perpetuity. We have many reasons to know the Lord's promise of perpetuity is true. Following are only a few. We know it is true because of its:
Jesus said it is "my church," He said He would build it. He planned it to be a holy place where the Spirit of God could lodge and direct. "In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (Eph. 2:21,22) This church (Gr. ekklesia) was not an institution of mortal origin. Meaning the eternal Son of God instituted His church. Its membership does consist of mortals, and they are involved in the function of the church as led by the Holy Spirit. "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." (1 Cor. 12:28) Each for their proper time and function. But it remains the possession of the Lord. He is the Head of this body of baptized believers. They are first required to be born again into the family of God. They must then be scripturally baptized by the Lord's church into be a separated assembly. They are to carry out the ministry He began while here on earth. (Matt. 28:19,20)
There are other assemblies mentioned in both Old & New Testaments. In the NT there was the assembly of those who worshiped the goddess Diana. (Acts 19) The town clerk at Ephesus spoke of a "lawful assembly" to settle certain questions. In both instances the same Greek word translated assembly is translated church in many other places. It is tempting here to continue this line of thought but my aim here is church perpetuity. Jesus' church was organized by Him, guided by the Holy Spirit and His inspired word, and kept by His divine promise.
Since the Lord placed the candlestick authority in His church, He has the exclusive license to demand correction of error or forfeiture of the candlestick. The expression in His letter to Ephesus reveals that losing love for the Head of the church and its proper operation places a local church in danger. "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." (Rev. 2:5) Reading the first chapter of this book leaves no doubt that the candlestick here is the local church at Ephesus. Although the people may remain and the physical building still standing, the church authority to function can be removed by the Head of the church. After all, it is His church. It doesn't belong to the pastor, the people, and certainly not to the community, it is His. As necessary as a pastor and people are for a church to appropriately function, it is only the absence of the Lord Jesus that causes an assembly to lose power and soon cease to function as a church.
The perpetuity of the church is assured because of its:
Since the Lord Himself promised to build His church, He built it on a sure foundation. Prophecy declared this long before the Lord Jesus adorned His physical identity. "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste." (Isa. 28:16) Peter recorded this prophesied Stone as being "disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious." (1 Pet. 2:4) The Stone which the Jewish builders rejected "the same is made the head of the corner." (1 Pet. 2:7)
Paul made it clear to the Corinthians that there was no other foundation. "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 3:11) Though many man-made churches exist, they exist upon a human foundation. Only the Lord's true church is founded upon Him as its sole Foundation. When Paul had laid the foundation "which is Jesus Christ," he warned every man to "take heed how he built thereupon." (1 Cor. 3:10)
Man made foundation will give way to water and wind. They will crumble with time and tribulation. But this true foundation will never crumble or even sag because Jesus Christ is "the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (Heb. 13:8) The human element within the Lord's church is often fruitless and never faultless, but it can be mature in the Lord. The perfect Founder and Foundation guarantees her ultimate cleansing and continuance. All this is possible because "Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 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. 5:25-27)
Several times in the New Testament the Lord is referred to as the foundation of His church. We can be assured then that the everlasting Son, who cannot change, is able to sustain His church even into eternity.
The Bible also teaches perpetuity of the church because of its:
Inasmuch as the Lord commanded His church to make disciples, teach, and baptize their converts, no one else has this authority. The authority was not given to man-made organizations, but to the Lord's church. Many are making disciples and baptizing them without authority from the Lord. Churches or assemblies whose origin is after the earthly ministry of Jesus do not have His authority to baptize. Pentecost was not the birthday of the Lord's church, as some declare. Jesus organized and instructed His church, during His personal ministry, how to properly settle matters of disagreement. (Matt. 18:15-17)
The Lord's church is the only organization that can claim the promise that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." He is the only One who has the "keys of hell and of death." (Rev. 1:18) The Founder and Foundation, the Head of His own body, the church, has power to establish and keep. Paul reminded the church at Thessalonica to pray for deliverance "from unreasonable and wicked men." Though not every man is given to faithfulness, "the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil." (2 Thes. 3:2,3) In the short period of time Paul was with the Thessalonians, he was sure they were directed properly by the Lord. They were steadfastly set for the purpose of extending the ministry of Christ. This was without the aid of any outside organized establishment to attend to their operation within or without. They needed no help in ministry or missions. Only the local church has the authority to carry out the command of its Head.
We can be assured of the continuance of the Lord's church until He returns because of its:
Though the purpose and intent of the church has been touched on earlier, the Lord's church must be occupied in matters of His command. The church is to be occupied in the same work as its Head. The Lord's forerunner, John the Baptist, was sent from God to prepare a people for the Lord's church. John's message was, "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matt. 3:2) Jesus preached the same message after His baptism and temptation. "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matt. 4:17) He sent His disciples out to preach "that men should repent." (Mark 6:12) Paul preached repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:12) In Athens Paul declared: "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world . . ." (Acts 17:30,31) The Lord's church must be repentant.
The occupation of the Lord's church must be the same today if it is to please Him. His church is not to be occupied with entertainment, partying, and side show activity. Churches claiming to be one of the Lord's local churches, even under the Baptist banner, have Christian(?) clowns to draw the crowds. It is obvious the visiting clown is not the only hired clown around. One can only imagine the feeling of the Lord in such cases.
All such inventions of man to enhance church attendance are an abomination to Jesus Christ. Arguments abound that the world can no longer be reached the "old fashioned way." Just what the "old fashioned way" means, I am not sure. Very late in prophetic human history John saw an angel flying in the midst of heaven with this eternal message. "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." (Rev. 14:6,7) "Everlasting" ( Gr. aionios), perpetual, used in past, present, and future as well. The everlasting Gospel was that preached to Abraham. (Gal. 3:8) It was the same Gospel preached by John, Jesus, and the disciples to and in the first church. It is everlasting and never needs help or changing to reach lost souls. It just needs to be proclaimed! It is obvious that the churches of Galatia are not the only churches who have fallen for another gospel. Which is certainly not another. (Gal. 1)
The Lord's church is sure to continue because of her declared:
This body of baptized believers are being prepared as a bride for the heavenly Bridegroom. The Bridegroom Himself is making the preparation. "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 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. 5:26,27) The preaching and teaching of the Word of God is the only means whereby the bride can be prepared for the Bridegroom. How can the sinful nature of man possibly be presented to the Lord apart from Bible preaching. Diligent presentation of gospel truth is the only possible way to create a desire even in believers to "cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Cor. 7:1) Hollywood cannot do it with entertainment. Fashion designer's primary object is to create lust in the heart. Only "the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Heb. 4:12)
When Christ has made His bride ready He will descend from heaven to catch her away. Solomon's words are representative of the voice of the Bridegroom to His bride. "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away." (Song Of Sol. 2:10) The church must also be ready when her Bridegroom calls. Will you be ready to be in that group referred to in 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 hath made herself ready." How could the Lord Jesus possibly disclaim His bride who He has so diligently furnish with such a clean garment washed in the Word of God? Not only has the Lord's church perpetually existed from the time of His ministry until the present. It will continue on until she is made ready for the Bridegroom. And then on into the New Jerusalem prepared for her.
Take heart in the words of the angels to the Lord's church shortly after He was taken up into heaven. "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11) Jesus is certainly coming for all the saved. But there is not only a special place for His church on earth, there is also a special place for her in heaven.
The most important event in the life of a lost sinner is to be born again of the Spirit. The second most important thing is to be a member of the body of Christ. The new birth places a person in the family of God. The other places a person by scriptural baptism into the Bride of Christ. The standing of the truly born again will never change, their state or condition of pleasing the Lord can vary. For a church it can even vary to the point of having the candlestick removed. (Rev. 2:5) Be sure, beware, and be faithful. "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)" (Heb. 10:23).