Sound Doctrine : Church

Mathew 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

Just as the whole purpose of the arrival of Jesus is illustrated in Mathew 1:21 (Redemption from Sins),  the purpose of the Church is given in this verse, that is, the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. This means that the gates of hell/hades are constantly trying to bring us down, but the Church does not have the authority but the strength to prevail against the gates which try to consume.

The authority is explained in Ep 1:21-23 where Jesus elevates Himself far above all dominions and rules and keeps everything under His feet. But the Church is His own body which is elevated alongside. Now we should understand that the person who fills all in all (the creator of things and their sources) is willing to come and fill the body (Church) with Himself. When Christ has filled the Church, it should understand that everything that belongs to the world including money and properties are below its feet.

When we see ourselves as the body of Jesus, in once incident (1 Timothy 3:15) Paul calls the Church as the household of God (Family) where the Church has to be seen with reverence. The Church should stand as a pillar and support of the Truth. This means that the Church may lose anything of the world but the Truth should be held tightly or otherwise, the divine plan and will of God cannot be executed in this world.

Church vs Temple

The Temple had an entirely different purpose than a Church. The purpose of the temple is seen in Exodus 25:8,9 where God wants to live among them. We can understand that our places are so unclean that God cannot come and live inside us. So, God wanted us to create a sanctuary which is consecrated so that He could come and live among us.

The Church is something that God built for us so that we could survive the earth. The beneficiary of the temple is God as we offer sacrifices and surrender ourselves there. In the Church we are being built up. In Ephesians 5:23, we read that Christ is the savior of the body. In 1 Corinthians 12:13, we read that the Spirit has constructed the body.

The temple collected taxes whereas the Church did not. The Church collected offerings as one wills and desires. 2 Corinthians 9:5,6,7 explains how the offerings should be given to the Church and Saints. 1 Corinthians 16:1-3 we read how the Corinthian church would collect for the Saints/Church in Jerusalem which was under persecution.

The Bible says that we are the temple of God in Ephesians 2:19-22. When more than one temples come together we become a Church. We have to revere both the Temple and the Church in this time keeping our bodies clean and the Church productive.

Purpose of the Church

The Church is not a place of worship or a place of prayer but a place of Edification. A place where a person is being built up as per Ephesians 4:11,12,13. Contrary to today’s standards there is no ministry of prayer or ministry of worship which is a mandatory part of everybody’s lives. The following verses (15) say that the Church should grow up into the Head. Verse 16 says that love should grow and so it will build the person up into Christ.

Responsibilities in the Church

The church does not appoint priests, but elders, Overseers and Deacons. The designation of an Elder is to shepherd the flock. The Elder should not dominate but be an example as per 1 Peter 5:1-5. Overseers and Deacons are instructed in 1 Timothy 3. None of these designations are given based on talents or inheritance but based on their lives.

Priests perform rituals but these people lead others towards Christlikeness. There is a major difference and we should not look at our elders as priests.

Unity

According to 1 Cor 10:17 we all partake of the one bread, Jesus.  This makes us all equal and according to Ephesians 3:6, no castes, races or nationality brings any difference in the Church.

Edify Together: 1 Cor 14:26 says that all the gifts should be used to build one another.

Communion:  1 Cor 11:23-26.

Sings together: Ephesians 5:18-21

Disciplines Together: Mathew 18:17.

Authority of the Church

                Just as it is hard for hades to overcome the Church, it is very easy for the Church to enter heaven as it has the keys. The key is the Holy Spirit as per Ephesians 1:13. So, living a Holy life for us and edifying ourselves to perfection should be as easy as holding and using a key with the strength of the Holy Spirit. But Satan has deceived us in seeing Jesus, His Church and His Eternal Gift differently. Let us have a sound understanding of the Church.