THE HOUSE OF GOD
"These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." (I Timothy 3:14-15)
It goes without saying that the house of God that Paul was referring to was not a material building made with wood and bricks. It is a spiritual house built with people. The Church is people who have been born again into God's kingdom. We, as living stones are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (I Peter 2:5). And the Master builder is God Himself.
This building needs a good foundation. The Church has a firm foundation – God's Word and the Lord Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone.
The second phase of the building is the pillars – the structure that is built on the foundation. God has provided a blueprint made by the Chief Architecture who said that He would build His Church, and there are codes that have to be observed in order for that building to pass inspection. It is not a shack!
Now, God has included us in this project of building His church. Listen to what the Apostle says about our part of building God's Church. He said, "For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field; you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone say than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold silver, precious stones wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are." (I Corinthians 3:9-17).
The primary purpose of the Church is to be the temple of God where He dwells on this earth. The purpose of the Church is not to be a social club, or fighting some vice or political agenda, or just meeting personal needs or the material and social needs of society. These cannot fulfill the function of God's Church.
Unless the LORD builds the house, he who labors labors in vain (Psalm 127;1). Christ will build His church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Nothing can destroy the church that Jesus builds. Satan has tried through the centuries, but, as Bill and Gloria Gaither sang it: the Church triumphant is alive and well. Jesus is still building His church, and we are a part of it. May we be careful how we conduct ourselves as a part of His Church.
Love, Dad
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