Who and What is the Church of God

Who and what is the “Church”

Church defined from Greek:

“An assembly, congregation; the Church, the whole body of Christian believers.”

And we also know that the word church can refer to denominations and a place of worship, but what does the word church in scripture actually mean?

During His ministry on earth, Jesus referenced the church in multiple ways. Sometimes He said the church, other times he said peoples. Through history we see that the church began as a people (e.g., Adam and Eve, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc), and progressed into a nation that has had many dark times as well as that of good.

What defined the church in Abraham’s time?

Galatians 3:6-9

6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

The believer’s in Abraham’s day were defined by their faith, correct? And because of Abraham’s faith in God, God promised that his seed would be heirs to righteousness in Faith. So, here Abrahams family who feared the Lord were defined as God’s people by their faith, and thus the Children of Israel also were defined as the people of God because of their faith and lineage, and again today those who are of faith in God (which is the same God of Abraham and Israel) are called the people of God, and by their faith are heirs to Salvation in Through Christ.

In the time of Christ, what was considered the “Church?” (Or thought to be)

Again, looking back through history, we find that the Israel nation in the time of Christ considered themselves the heirs of Salvation because of their lineage from Abraham. So, the Jews were thought to be considered the Church of God, but were the Jews actually the true church of God?

Matthew 10:5, 6

5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

What does this verse show about the Israel nation? “the lost sheep of Israel.” Does this show that there were some in Israel who were erring and not in the truth? Certainly. So, as a nation, Israel could not be considered the church because if the nation was taken to heaven, there would be vile sinners in it.
How about the denominational church of the Jews? Was that the true Church of God? They did keep the ordinances of the Sanctuary and of the laws, but how did many of the members and leaders of that church treat Jesus? The chief priests and Pharisees certainly did not approve of Christ and the ministry work that He worked among them, and many times those religious leaders sought to Kill Jesus. Does that sound like God’s church? God forbid.
However, with all the corruptions of the Jewish religion, did Jesus turn His back upon them? Did He not worship on the Sabbath day in their synagogues? Of course He did. It says in Mark 1:21 that Jesus went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and taught. Why? Because He went to seek after “the lost sheep of Israel. (Mat 10:6)”

This is the example for us in this: We can see that a denomination cannot be God’s defined church, for their can be leaders and members in a denomination that do err. It is by the condition of our heart and the condition of our faith that will define whether or not we are a member of God’s Church. I would rather have my name written in the book of Life in heaven and go to spend eternity with My Lord, rather than to have my faith put in an earthly denomination (instead of God) and have my name written in the that earthly book. Our Salvation is in Christ alone, and we must work out or Salvation with Him in fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12), and prove our steadfast faithfulness in Him to be counted among the faithful. This is my prayer for each, that we would each lift our eyes upon High, and trust in the Lord rather than in man.
Let us also not turn our back upon those whose eyes are upon men, but be like Jesus who sought to reach the “lost sheep of Israel.”

(Ended last week)

In the time that Christ ministered, the Jews believed themselves to be the heirs of Righteousness, and because of it they felt themselves as superior above all other nations of the world, and any person who was not a part of their “Church” of Israel was considered a Gentile (the Gentiles were treated like dogs by the Jews and downtrodden upon). Is this the character that was described as that of God’s church? Certainly not so. The so-thought church of that time was not actually the real church of God because that organization had separated from God. The Jews were early Seventh day Adventist, for they professed in the Advent of Christ and kept the Seventh day Holy, but as Jesus said, the Jews were the “lost sheep of Israel” and were in need of being shown the gospel, for they had certainly gone away from God. Through the time of Christ’s ministry, Jesus focused upon reaching the people who were once the chosen people of God, but as was shown when Christ was crucified, the largely established “Church” of that time rejected the Messiah and actually condemned Him to death on the cross. It was shortly after which when the door was opened for the gospel to be spread to the whole world and was no longer secluded to one nation and one people. The advent message of the redemption that Christ bought for us was able to be accepted by any and all who could hear it, and in being brought to faith in God, all could become heirs of righteousness.

            Now, let’s quickly follow the church of God up to our time.

Matthew 28:19 and 20

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

At Jesus’ last conversation with His disciples before He was taken up to Heaven, He charged the disciples to now take the gospel to all the world teaching and baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost. To teach all to observe what Christ had taught the disciples leaving them with the Promise that He would be with them always (this promise still applies to us today if we heed the calling to go and teach all the truth of Salvation).

The true members of God’s church following the Stoning of Steven were a peculiar people of faithfulness, accepting the truth and following in faith after righteousness, but they were persecuted for their faith. Who were the people who stoned Steven? Were they not Jews too? Even those claiming to be the church of God (falsely of course) continued to reject the truth and persecuted the real Christians of that time. Because of the Pride of the nation, the Jews lost sight of the covenant that God made with Abraham and its conditions that they were required to keep. They rejected the gospel, they rejected the righteousness, and rejected everlasting life.

            These things of history show very important lessons for us today, amen? We are given a proper example to follow in order to be heirs of righteousness, and also are given examples of what disobedience to God can do to those who were once the true people of God.

            What does a woman represent in Scripture when spoken as a symbol?

Jeremiah 6:2
I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.

What is Zion?

2 Kings 19: 30 and 31

30 And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.

31 For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this.

So, Zion, or the mount of Zion is reference to Jerusalem which was the capitol of the Israelite nation. Therefore, the daughters of Zion represent the people of God, for Israel was the chosen people of God. Jeremiah 6:2 says that the “daughters of Zion” are likened “to a comely and delicate woman.” Often in scripture, when speaking of prophecy, the people of God are symbolized as a woman then, correct?

Now, let’s turn to Revelation and read about the church in the last days.

Revelation 12: 7-17

7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Here, the dragon represent Satan who was cast out of heaven with 1/3 of the angles for rebelling against God and making war in heaven. Satan sees that he has but a short time and then he will be utterly defeated, so he turned to the bride of Christ to persecute her and to try and destroy her. We know from our previous two bible studies that the woman, who is the people of God, was nourished in faithfulness for 1260 years (time, times, and a half) through the time of trouble.
Now, notice verse 17 that says, “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

This portrays the character of God’s church in the last days; they are those who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus.
Also notice how the verse says that the devil went to make war with the remnant or her seed. Also note that in 2 Kings 19, verse 30 and 31 says, “And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this.

This remnant mentioned in Revelation 12:17, and in 2 Kings 19 are the remaining people of God’s church in these last days. They will be scattered throughout the earth, and afflicted, and tried and tested for their faith; they will be those who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus though the heavens fall. This remnant I want to be among: which are the people of God, and the inheritors of righteousness through faith. Amen?

Conclusion

The sum of the matter is simple. The Church represents the woman who is the people of God, of whom Christ died for to present to Himself as a bride clean and spotless (Ephesians 5:25-27). The remnant represents the remnant of God’s people in the last days.
            In the world today, we all hear many peoples and nations and denominations as well as individuals claiming to be the church of God. But are they truly the People of God? How do we know what is the true church of God? How do we know who is working by the Spirit of God, and who is working by the Spirit of Satan? Matthew 7:20 says, “By their fruits, ye shall know them.” By this and study of the word of God we will be able to discern who are the true people of God, and who are false teachers.
The True Church of God are a people –not a denomination, a structure, building, or a nation, but are a people; a people who keep the commandments of God, who are not afraid to call sin by its right name, who keep the faith and testimony of Jesus, who are as true to duty as the needle to the pole though the heavens fall. This is who I want to be numbered with in the day that Christ comes to gather us with Him to take home with Him.
            We have to realize that the people of God put their full trust and attention on God, and not in any man. We cannot put our trust in a denomination, or a modern theology, but instead we must look unto Christ (who is author and finisher of our faith) for truth and discernment, Amen?
We must be sober and vigilant, because no matter where we are, or with whom we worship with, the devil strives to continually deceive the people of God away from the truth.

I pray that we each would recognize the duty of God’s church (us) for these last days. I pray that we would study diligently to shew ourselves approved unto God (2 Tim 2:15), and that we would pray for discernment from the holy Spirit to rightly know our teachers, ministers, pastors, and fellow believer’s by their fruits. Keep your eyes upon Jesus, and don’t look away. Remember to keep the commandments in faithfulness, and to keep the testimony of Jesus to be among the saints of God (Rev 14:12).