The Church / The Body of Christ – Part 3

2 Corinthians 6:14-16 “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. “

Continuing this short study of the Ecclesiology, the holy Christian church, the lesson states that being set apart from the God-rejecting world system, also means being set apart by God for God’s purposes to do that which the Designer desired and brings with it great privileges and responsibilities. In the rightly ordered “visible” church, people are privileged to hear the Word of God preached and to receive the sacraments, and through these means the Lord causes His people to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Members o the “visible” church also benefit frorn the love of Christ for the corporate body and the love of members for one another. But those who join the “visible” church in covenant community also have the responsibility to repent and believe the gospel. Joining a church does not make us a Christian, just as walking into a garage does not make us a car. We must be “born again” in true conversion, regeneration of the spirit, in complete dedication to, and devotion for the Lord.

1 Corinthians 10:16-17 “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.”

What we may forget, however, is the doctrine of the church concerning biblical understanding of the nature, mission, and marks of the institution of church. God brings us to spiritual life and cares for us through the “visible” church. Since the church administers the Word of God and sacraments, God ordinarily works through the church’s ministry to save and sustain His people. Our Lord remains sovereign. Membership in the “visible” church, while essential, is insufficient for salvation. One must also be a member of the “invisible” church, which consists of all those who possess true faith in Christ. One has rightly pointed out that there are three elements to “saving” faith: Knowledge, assent, and trust. True saving faith is putting our trust in Jesus Christ for our eternal life. It is invisible to us, not to God.

1 Samuel 16:7b  “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance (the visible), but the Lord looks at the heart (the invisible).”

Blessings in Christ