"Unto The Church Of God"

Hello To All:

We closed our last essay by stating the following: "When next we meet, we shall take a closer look at the characteristics of: "The general assembly and church of the firstborn." The time for that closer look is now at hand; and I must confess to you, my beloved brethren, that it is with a certain amount of trepidation, that I approach this topic. Particularly, as western Christians, we take a very defensive posture regarding the local church that we belong to, or regularly attend. Our church is important to us; and we do not treat with kindness those who would criticize us. But, criticize I must.

With rare exceptions, what we, in the west call church, is not the church described, in great detail, in the King's Book. In case you missed the importance of what was just written, then allow me to once again proclaim, with absolute clarity: What we typically call church, in the west, is not the true church described and revealed in the King's Book! Rather, our western churches most closely resemble a town square meeting, where anyone, regardless of creed or persuasion can enter in and participate and express their opinions.  In an essay published May 31, 2013, and titled: "Do We Believe God Regarding Communion: Our Purge," we were reminded of the significant negative effect that leaven can have on the local assembly. But, with our western town square format, we invite and even encourage the leaven to come on in.

In John, chapter ten, our Lord Jesus Christ gives us a very clear picture of what the church is: (verse 1) "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber." (verse 9) "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." (verse 10) "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

The "sheepfold," in the John chapter ten text, would be rightly understood as the church; and since entrance into the sheepfold is only through Jesus (see verse 9); then it should be rightly understood that the church is exclusively for believers (please see previous essay titled: "The general assembly and church of the firstborn"); that is to say, that the church consists of those who belong exclusively to Jesus of Nazareth, who is the Christ, the Son of The Living God. Amen and Amen and Amen!

Please note the above description of the church as being "exclusively for believers." Yes, it is true that believers gather in church meetings in all parts of the west. But, these are rarely exclusive gatherings. We have opened up another door; this is the door that allows the leaven to enter in. We have decided, for a variety of reasons, that our church meetings are to cater to the saved and also to be evangelistic outreaches (we seem to be doing a very good job of ignoring the "go ye therefore" commandment that is directed to every follower of Jesus Christ); and so, we open the doors to any who would enter.  There are no gatekeepers; and, as a result, both the saved and the unsaved suffer, because the western church, contaminated by leaven, is now much less then Christ intends for it to be.

Please consider the introduction to Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church. We find written at 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, the following:

(1) "Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,"
(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:"
(3) "Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."
(4) "I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;"
(5) "That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;"
(6) "Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:"
(7) "So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:"
(8) "Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ."
(9) "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."

In our previous essay, we came to understand, that the "Ye" who "are come," are those who belong to Jesus. In this essay, we should be beginning to recognize, that what we "are come" to, is meant to be exclusively for believers.

Take another look at the introduction to the Corinthian letter: "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" - "Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours" - "The grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ" - "That in every thing ye are enriched by him" - "The testimony of Christ was confirmed in you" - "Waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" - "Who shall also confirm you unto the end" - "That ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" - "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."

Our text closes with another reference to our calling: "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."  The "fellowship," that we are called to, is the same Koinonia that we have looked at before (please see essay of 12/12/2012 titled: "Do we believe God: Regarding Communion?" - and essay of 02/14/2013 titled: "Do we believe God: Regarding Communion? Part 2").

I am compelled to conclude, my beloved, that the church is meant by God to be a holy convocation, an exclusive assembly, meant for believers only - no exceptions! I am praying that you are coming to the same conclusion.

Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus I continue to be:

Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus