November 4th 2018
The Church Is Not A Building, It Is A Body Of People Who Know Their Salvation Has Been Assured By What Jesus Did!
Romans 12:4-5 (NIV)
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Since the Reformation attempt Christianity has become more and more splintered over the years since then. The reforming idea was, as I try to understand it was an attempt just to get all Christians to base their religious activity to be only on the Bible as God’s instruction book, and to stop using old traditions as the basis of how to worship God, and how to officiate the church. However, what actually happened was for different ideas to come into play for how theologians viewed the responses mankind should have of what God’s Word actually says we should do. Thus, churches were formed based on a member of mankind, and tried to follow this man’s ideas for how to run their churches. Therefore, we ended up with the formation of denominations, which eliminated the possibility of what Paul wrote about in Romans “so in Christ we who are many form one body!”
Then it even got worse, as Christians formed churches that are non-denominational, thus splitting us up even more! Satan has done an exquisite job of separating Christians into more controllable groups, which Satan can control even more.
Now the denominations war against each other mostly by nitpicking selected sacraments to keep us apart, and thus, more controlled by Satan. This does not mean that any of the denominational or non-denominational churches are evil or demonic, but they are all less strong, since the number of members are indicating separation not togetherness, which is what God proposed, and that Paul wrote about when the Christian faith was beginning to form physical buildings to house followers of Jesus that would espouse, “so in Christ we who are many form one body!” Statically, the Christian faith has the largest membership, but because of this mankind driven organization, we are not the strongest worldly religion, as most other religions require a concise belief structure. Christians do not even agree on the requirements for salvation, because we disagree on the requirement of baptism as a part of their salvation plan.
When the Christian church was just forming Paul wrote about how some individuals were trying to subvert the message about salvation, and even about whether Jesus was just a man or the God/man. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. (2Corinthians 11:13-14). Notice what Paul wrote about such people who were intent on forcing their theology on the early church. Such people are still around today, and at least some of them are being directed by Satan. Paul wrote, “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” Today we see our churches being pulled by groups that espouse sinful lifestyles as being okay, and that we must not only accept them as normal, but we should be proud of giving them support!
Peter wrote about false prophets that would come into this cursed world to influence believers to accept their ideas as being acceptable to those trying to lead a Christian lifestyle. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. (2Peter 1-9). This is a long list of God’s requirements to punish people and angels who tried to influence mankind to accept wrong interpretations of God’s Word to mislead well-meaning disciples of Jesus to turn to a sinful lifestyle, and to allow others to be trapped into believing such a lifestyle is okay with Jesus!
Some people question if/when Jesus is going to return to this earth as a religious dictator to abolish all such false teachers, and thus, to guide all His disciples to again follow Him on that correct narrow path that leads to salvation and heaven! Peter wrote about this long timeframe, and why it is so long to be fulfilled. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patent with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2Peter 3:9). Peter writes about how this long timeframe is needed to allow more of God’s people to be saved. God promised people in the Old Testament about how He is supporting them until that long-awaited Savior would come. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10). Here God promised to be the Savior of these people until the time came to send His Son to this earth to establish this Christian faith. Remember, the Church is not a building, it is a body of people who know their salvation has been assured by what Jesus did as the perfect sacrifice that saves all those who believe He is who He says He is!
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. (Matthew 16:15-17). Who do you say Jesus is?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Romans 12:4-5 (NIV)
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Since the Reformation attempt Christianity has become more and more splintered over the years since then. The reforming idea was, as I try to understand it was an attempt just to get all Christians to base their religious activity to be only on the Bible as God’s instruction book, and to stop using old traditions as the basis of how to worship God, and how to officiate the church. However, what actually happened was for different ideas to come into play for how theologians viewed the responses mankind should have of what God’s Word actually says we should do. Thus, churches were formed based on a member of mankind, and tried to follow this man’s ideas for how to run their churches. Therefore, we ended up with the formation of denominations, which eliminated the possibility of what Paul wrote about in Romans “so in Christ we who are many form one body!”
Then it even got worse, as Christians formed churches that are non-denominational, thus splitting us up even more! Satan has done an exquisite job of separating Christians into more controllable groups, which Satan can control even more.
Now the denominations war against each other mostly by nitpicking selected sacraments to keep us apart, and thus, more controlled by Satan. This does not mean that any of the denominational or non-denominational churches are evil or demonic, but they are all less strong, since the number of members are indicating separation not togetherness, which is what God proposed, and that Paul wrote about when the Christian faith was beginning to form physical buildings to house followers of Jesus that would espouse, “so in Christ we who are many form one body!” Statically, the Christian faith has the largest membership, but because of this mankind driven organization, we are not the strongest worldly religion, as most other religions require a concise belief structure. Christians do not even agree on the requirements for salvation, because we disagree on the requirement of baptism as a part of their salvation plan.
When the Christian church was just forming Paul wrote about how some individuals were trying to subvert the message about salvation, and even about whether Jesus was just a man or the God/man. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. (2Corinthians 11:13-14). Notice what Paul wrote about such people who were intent on forcing their theology on the early church. Such people are still around today, and at least some of them are being directed by Satan. Paul wrote, “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” Today we see our churches being pulled by groups that espouse sinful lifestyles as being okay, and that we must not only accept them as normal, but we should be proud of giving them support!
Peter wrote about false prophets that would come into this cursed world to influence believers to accept their ideas as being acceptable to those trying to lead a Christian lifestyle. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. (2Peter 1-9). This is a long list of God’s requirements to punish people and angels who tried to influence mankind to accept wrong interpretations of God’s Word to mislead well-meaning disciples of Jesus to turn to a sinful lifestyle, and to allow others to be trapped into believing such a lifestyle is okay with Jesus!
Some people question if/when Jesus is going to return to this earth as a religious dictator to abolish all such false teachers, and thus, to guide all His disciples to again follow Him on that correct narrow path that leads to salvation and heaven! Peter wrote about this long timeframe, and why it is so long to be fulfilled. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patent with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2Peter 3:9). Peter writes about how this long timeframe is needed to allow more of God’s people to be saved. God promised people in the Old Testament about how He is supporting them until that long-awaited Savior would come. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10). Here God promised to be the Savior of these people until the time came to send His Son to this earth to establish this Christian faith. Remember, the Church is not a building, it is a body of people who know their salvation has been assured by what Jesus did as the perfect sacrifice that saves all those who believe He is who He says He is!
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. (Matthew 16:15-17). Who do you say Jesus is?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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