The “church” has failed a great many sincere believers of that Gospel we first heard, by which we are saved. The “church” is not that which saves us. It is faith, and nothing else, in the finished work of Jesus the Christ. As Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Moreover, brethren, I declare to you THE gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved... that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
His finished work is His sacrificial death on the cross, His burial, and His Resurrection from the dead... ALL imputed to us to be made NEW and RIGHTEOUS in God’s eyes. We were made spotless from sin; we were made partakers of His divine nature; indwelt by the Holy Spirit; we were made fellow heirs with Christ; we were translated into His kingdom; and we are seated in the heavenlies with Him. That’s all what God did for us in Christ.It is NOT the Body of Christ, which is what God did for us, as I stated above. The Body of Christ is exclusive. But anyone can go to the first church building on the corner... but you will have to be "baptized into the building" and "become a member" of the building.
The fellowship of Christ, the congregation under the stewardship of spiritual leaders (elders, deacons, teachers, etc) have the responsibility of “EDIFYING” the saints, that is, instructing, improving, enlightening us so that we may be made more and more like Jesus. It’s called spiritual maturity...perfecting, “until we ALL come to the UNITY OF THE FAITH and of the knowledge of the Son of God, TO A PERFECT MAN, to the measure of THE STATURE OF THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST” Ephesians 4:13. This isn’t happening in any venue I am aware of (excluding Les Feldick’s teaching on TV and online).
Where is the “unity of the faith?” Every street corner church is different! Who is being brought along “unto a perfect man?” Has anybody seen one? They say it can’t be done. That's NOT what my Bible says! Who is growing into the fullness of Christ... the “righteous" man whose fervent prayer accomplishes MUCH! Many churches have no formal bible study time. Those that do, have unqualified “teachers” ...teachers who take a portion of controversial scripture and tell us, “that’s not for us today.” I don’t want to be next to him at the judgment.
I have been disappointed since 1977.
And I myself am a disappointment to God, I’m sure, because I myself have failed
myself.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.