Israel
Deuteronomy 4 : 5-8 « 5Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. 6Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. 7For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? 8And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? » KJV
One of the purposes of the law given by God to Moses was to make Israel unique, spiritually and morally, among all nations and then to attract others to the Lord. Israel should not be distinguished by its natural resources, wealth or military power but by exemplary morality and close relationship with God.
When God made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants, they became the chosen people of God and were called Israelites (Exodus 1:9) or Hebrews (Exodus 1:15).
Exodus 1: 15 « 15And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah » KJV
The election of Israel was accompanied by a duty of absolute obedience. This election was not considered by God as an end in itself but as a means to reach the other peoples of the earth, who had formed the “nations” and were called the “pagans”.
In the New Testament, the Jews viewed the pagans as unclean and enemies of God. The coming of Jesus Christ ushered in a new era in relations between Gentiles and Jews, and granted a new status to the former for which the early church had to fight to be accepted by the latter.
The pagans do not enter into the earthly covenant of the Jews but Jews and pagans share in Christ the same heavenly citizenship. The church did not replace Israel in God’s plan but the believers of the New Covenant were « grafted » on the promise that was once only for the Jews because of the covenant with Abraham (Romans 11:17-24).
Romans 11: 17-24 « 17And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 24For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? » KJV
The Church
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit with power and gifts, as recorded in Acts 2, marks the beginning of the dispensation of the Church. But what is the Church?
The word “church” comes from the Greek « ekklesia » which means “those who are called out of”. The corresponding Hebrew word is “qahal” which can be translated as “a people called by Yahweh”.
Indeed, God is the One who calls; faith in His Son Jesus Christ unifies His called ones; and the Bible is the statutes or the constitution governing all the called ones. The Church belongs to God, not to the people whom He has put at its head to administer it on a daily basis.
During the first three hundred years of Christianity, there was no building called a church. Christians met in houses or catacombs.
It should not be said that a church is the house of God, that God dwells in it for He does not dwell in a building made by man’s hand. We can say, however, that a church is the house of God because it has been consecrated to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 3:16 « 16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? » KJV
1 Corinthians 6 : 19 « 19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? » KJV
These two verses of Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians teach us that it is our body, from now on, which is the dwelling place, or temple, of God. After transforming us into new creatures at the New Birth, God also made us – spirit, soul and body – His temple. Our body is the outer court, our soul the holy place and our spirit the most holy place.
We have also become the altar of God and therefore no longer need to erect altars for Him.
Yet it is not our duty to be at the centre of worship, of adoration, but rather to Jesus Christ. The more man is at the center, the less faithful the Church will be to its commitments before God.
Many believers desire that Jesus be their Saviour, but not that He become their Lord. They want Him to deliver them from hell, but above all not to let Him direct their lives.
Unity and truth, the two pillars of the Church
The Church is not there for itself, but for the world, that it may be saved, that people depend on Christ and become His disciples. People who join the Church have often been broken by life, by Satan and are seeking restoration where unfortunately they are often entitled to accusations. Let us love them and let God do His work in them.
Two things are essential in the Church: love (or unity) and purity (or truth). Both must be constantly balanced. If, to preserve the purity of the Church, one behaves too harshly, where is love? But conversely, if we were to turn a blind eye or ignore the sins of our brothers and sisters because of our loving and sensitive hearts, what place would we give to purity?
The salt and the light of the world
Matthew 5: 13-16 « 13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. » KJV
The Church is Light and Salt. Just as salt keeps food from getting bad, believers are called to stop the moral decay of the world around them. And just as the light helps the traveler to discern his path, they are also called to direct men towards Him who is the true Light: Jesus Christ. (John 1:9)
John 1: 9 « 9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. » KJV
The authority of the Church
Ephesians 3: 8-12 « 8Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. » KJV
The evil spirits know that the Church has authority on earth but the Church itself ignores it ! If there are so many problems on earth, it is because the Church does not exercise its authority. God acted sovereignly in the Old Testament, through His Son Jesus Christ in the Gospels, through the apostles in the book of Acts and today it is through the Church that He does.
Matthew 16:18 « 18And 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. » KJV
The Church must go forth so that the gates of hell do not prevail against it; it must be offensive and as long as it is on earth, the enemy cannot carry out its plan. The Church is the force that holds back the Antichrist so that as many souls as possible can enter into the Kingdom of God.
The Name of Jesus is for the Church
Jesus was born on the morning of the resurrection (Acts 13:33); at that time He inherited the most excellent Name (Hebrews 1:1-4).
Philippians 2:9-11 also tells us that God gave Jesus the Name which is above all names.
Acts 13: 33 « 33God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. » KJV
Philippians 2 : 9-11 « 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. » KJV
In 2,000 years, since His resurrection, ascension and enthronement to the right hand of the Father, Jesus Christ has not used His Name once. He does not need it ! He dominates all creation by His only Word. But the Bible reveals that the Name of Jesus is for the use of the Church which is His Body.
All the power and authority that Jesus had when He was on earth are now included in His Name. And on our lips this Name will produce the same results as in the time when He lived.
The seven sons of Sceva (Acts 19:14-17) had no right to use the Name of Jesus for it belongs only to the children of God. To use it, you must have the legal right.
Jesus has given us authority. He has given us His name which has authority in heaven, on earth and under the earth. The authority is in His Name which we have received through the Blood Covenant. He said that we can use His name in prayer (John 16:23-24), to cast out demons (Mark 16:17-18) or in the practice of healing ministry.
John 16: 23-24 « 23And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. » KJV
Mark 16 : 17-18 « 17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. » KJV
In the Name of Jesus Christ, we can invoke the protective power of His Blood on our lives, on our families, etc. When we pray in the Name of Jesus, it is as if Jesus Himself were saying this prayer. And the Name of Jesus will be effective in our lives when we confess what this Name is capable of.
The Church is the most important reality in the world because it is the realization of God’s eternal purpose.
