THE FIRST TESTAMENT CHURCH

PART III

31.  HONEST BUT DECEIVED

We often hear sincere souls say, "I am a member of the Lord's true church because I am saved." But in every case of Scripture it took baptism and the surrender to keep the doctrine to get into the Lord's church. All churches whose authority and heritage come from the first one, are true churches if they remain faithful to the word and will of God. And after the second church as formed by the power of God and through the approval of His holy servants that came out from the church at Jerusalem, we can only refer to the church at the location where it is situated. Referring to a specific local visible body of believers, we read of the churches of Galatia (Galatians 1:2), church of God at Corinth (I Corinthians 1:2), and so on.

32. DIFFERENCE IN THE SAVED AND THE CHURCH

In Revelation 1:1-4, we see that this word is given to Christ's servants by the hand of His servant John. Verse 4 begins, "John to the seven churches." These are His servants. So, if we as individuals would be his servants we must belong to His church. Then we find in I Corinthians 14:33 "as in all churches of the saints" (or holy servants, for such is the inferred meaning).

34.  HOW DO WE KNOW THIS KIND OF CHURCH
       EXISTS IN THE WORLD TODAY?

Matthew 16:18: "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." John 14:3: "I will come again, and receive you unto myself." Since He has not returned, His church remains.

Beloved, we know that God's word is true. Upon the examination of this subject, in the light of the few passages we have looked at, there could not be now, nor in the future ages, a universal, invisible church of all the saved.

It is wonderful to be saved, but now that you have life, God is calling you to His employment. Why not begin today to walk after the Lord by faith and find His church? He wants you. Do you want His promise to come true to you as His child? You can see the Lord's church. There might be one near you, which the Lord can show you.

In Ephesians 5:30: "For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones." The members of the Lord's true church are the true representatives to the world of the Lord's personal body.

We may loosely use the Word and excuse ourselves and others, but when it comes to facing God, we will have to face facts and suffer the consequences. Why not renounce the false efforts today and reap the benefit now and in the ages to come?