What is the Church?

The church is not a place but an living organism:  it is the Body of Christ of which He is the head.  Even as a body is diverse, made of many members united as a whole, so the church is comprised of different races, cultures, and people with a single point of unity:  faith in Jesus Christ as LORD and Saviour.  When I write "the church" I am not speaking of membership or attendance, but those who are born again Christians who have been bought with the blood of Jesus.  Going to a church does not make a man a Christian, but only Christians are part of Christ's Body.  Being a Christian is not a claim of perfection.  Actually, it is the exact opposite.  A Christian is someone who is acutely aware of his sin, is aware of the eternal punishment he justly deserves, and the desperate need for forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

The church isn't perfect.  We serve a perfect God, but everyone in the church are marked with flaws.  If we were perfect in ourselves we wouldn't need redemption or salvation.  We wouldn't need deliverance or accountability.  Jesus came not for the righteous but to call sinners to repentance.  If God only used perfect people, not a single person on earth would measure up.  It is the imperfection, weakness, and foolishness of the vessels which best display God's redemptive and transforming love, forgiveness, grace, mercy, and power.  1 Corinthians 1:26-31 reads, "For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.²⁷ But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; ²⁸ and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, ²⁹ that no flesh should glory in His presence. ³⁰ But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- ³¹ that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."

Do you really want to know who makes up the church?  Here is the stark reality:  we are addicts, drug dealers, proud, lying, thieving adulterers and adulteresses, deceivers and deceived.  We are fornicators, alcoholics, suicidal, porn junkies, fools, rapists and murderers.  We are foul-mouthed haters, perverts, homosexuals, self-injurers, gang members, and back-stabbers.  We are self-righteous bigots, ignorant, gluttons, prostitutes, johns, and pimps.  We are traitors, selfish, blind, violent, judgmental, and hypocritical.  The list goes on and on.  We were lost in the dark, confused, helpless, and hopeless.  But every one of us has been washed totally clean in the blood of Jesus Christ.  We have all been forgiven by His grace and mercy.  The long record of our sins has been purged through Christ's sacrifice.  The church is made of people who have taken God at His Word as it is written in 1 John 1:9:  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  We have come from darkness into the light.  We are clean, pure, free, and holy.  Instead of regrets and shame the joy of the LORD is our strength.  Instead of being condemned to hell for eternity we have been promised eternal life with Jesus Christ in heaven as an adopted child of God!  Every one of us has an incorruptible inheritance reserved for us in heaven which cannot be stolen or lost.

Once we are born again we are called and enabled to live according to Christ's righteous standard.  We must make a clean break with our old sinful lifestyle and follow Christ, honouring Him with our lives.  When we fall into sin we are called to admit it and repent.  Every day we are to feed on the good Word of God, making disciples of all nations.  We are called to join in fellowship with other believers, holding each other accountable with love and grace.  Instead of being defined by our faults we are to live as the express image of Christ on this earth, being ambassadors for His Kingdom.  We are to boldly proclaim the Gospel to those who remain in bondage, praying for all people.  We are to exercise the spiritual gifts granted us through the Holy Spirit who indwells us, glorifying God and edifying the Body of Christ.  Praise the LORD He has given us all things which pertain to life and holiness.

Do you want to be set free from sin and become part of God's family?  It doesn't happen by going to church on Sunday, listening to Bible studies, or becoming a member of a local church fellowship:  it happens when you acknowledge your sins and repent, trusting only in the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse you.  When you repent, trusting in Christ alone for salvation, the Holy Spirit will take up residence within your heart and make you a new creation as a living child of God.  God transforms people from within!  Praise God for His love and forgiveness!  What does the church look like?  See for yourself!