TOPIC: THE CHURCH IS ONE BODY

 For taking your time to study remain blessed.

TOPIC: THE CHURCH IS ONE BODY   November Monday  9th

Text: Ephesians 4:3-7

Key verse: Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

 

Jesus clearly declares His ownership of the church and His responsibility towards the building of His church. He emphasizes that since He is the builder of the church, the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. He raises men and makes use of them to co-build His church. He delivers the keys of the kingdom to men for them to build His church. Jesus gives the builders of His church the power to loose and bind. The church, the ministers and all the workers, apparently from this scripture are not denominational. “My church” here refers to the body of Christ and the ministers over His church are non-denominational and therefore not segregated. Jesus did not expect His church to be split and segregated. Therefore, the church that Christ instituted is one and the ministers are one. He remains the Lord over His church with authority coming from Him alone to the ministers He set over His church.

 

The church that Paul had authority over, Peter also had authority over it. In the same manner, Apollos had authority over the same church. Paul said, “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another  buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.” This means the work is not given to one man only. The ministers over the church work together as in the Army where various soldiers have their areas of jurisdiction in a military operation according to their ranks and divisions. The church is one because it is the body of Christ operating with the Spirit of Christ. The church has one hope of eternal life which is heaven. The church has one body of teaching and belief which is referred to as the faith. She has one Lord, Master and Saviour over all. The church has one baptism (uniform transformation) for “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature,” whether he is black or white, whether a Nigerian or a Ghanaian. Irrespective of the part of the world he hails from, the same scripture applies to all. This is the “one baptism” being preached. It is the total transformation the Holy Spirit does in those who believe the gospel irrespective of the name of one’s church denomination. 

 

Thought for the day: The church of God is one! One Lord, one Master, one Saviour.

Song for the day: We are heirs of the Father

Bible reading for the day: Jeremiah 51-52; Hebrews 6

#Horemow.