Last week we talked about Jesus, the Church, and the Kingdom. We want to continue our lesson on this glorious subject of the church.
The church was no mere afterthought of God. It was not a contingency plan for a idea that had been thwarted by man and Satan. Before the foundations of the world Jesus was chosen to live, die and be resurrected and to build the church (those called out). This showed the omniscience of God (1 Peter 1:20); (Rev. 13:8).
If one would take the time to read the Old Testament. You would see that there are over 300 prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah and the Church. The New Testament age would show the fulfillment of these prophecies.
God is called by some as the “Great Architect” yet this word does not even begin to describe the attributes of God. Never the less God is an architect. Now what architect does not first draw out his plans and calculate the cost before he builds his project? God designed the universe, the earth, animals and man. And he calculated in the equation of life a need for a Saviour. Nothing is left to chance with God.
Each stone of prophecy builds the foundation on which we would eventually see the inaugural unrevealing of the Messiah. Moses wrote in Gen. 3:15, the first prophecy concerning Christ in the late 14th century B.C., although it was told to Adam and Eve some 2500 years earlier. Moses was inspired by God to write down the annals of time concerning the great Patriarchs and of his own “Mosaical” events.
When we read the prophecies concerning the church in (Is. 2:2-3; Daniel 2:44) and see their fulfillment in “Acts chapter two, we should have an overwhelming joy and praise for God. For without the church the world would be lost to a devils hell. Isaiah painted a vivid and gross picture of the horrible death that Jesus would have to suffer for the souls of man kind (Is. 53). All the prophecies of the Old Testament paint the same picture revealed in the four Gospels of the New Testament. Yet! The New Testament has a much clearer image of the life and death of Jesus Christ.
Christ mission was to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10). What element would he use to save the lost? The word of God (Rom. 1:16;John 17:17). The word of God would build living stones. “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5). These living stones are the members of the church. Christ is the chief corner stone (Eph. 2:20). He is straight, and solid, flawless and level. All the other stones must come after him and line up identical to him. Otherwise the house “church” will be uneven and fall.
The foundation of the church is built on the prophecies of the Old Testament. The building (church) that rest on the foundation is built by the members(living stones). They must emulate the chief corner stone (Christ).
Would you like to be a living stone in the church that Jesus built (Matt. 16:18)? You can not add yourself or be voted in to God’s house. You must first meet God’s requirements. Then God, not man will add you to his house (Acts 2:47).
What does God require of man in order to become an eternal part of his kingdom?
1. Hear the Word: (Rom. 10:17).
2. Believe the Word: (John 8:24; John 3:16).
3. Repent “Stop sinning”: (Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30).
4. Confess: (Rom. 10:9-10; Matt. 10:32).
5. Baptized: (Acts 2:38, 22:16; Rom. 6:4)
6. Continue to live faithfully: (Rev. 2:10).
The choice is yours, what will you do with Jesus? Have a good and Godly Day!
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