JESUS AND HIS CHURCH

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it – Matthew 16:18

Jesus is the Builder, Owner, Leader, and triumphant Head of the Church. His Church is unconquerable, for He said, “I will build MY CHURCH, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mt.16:18). The apostle Paul reveals that the Church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone (Eph.2:20). That’s why Christ’s Church will never fail, for it is built upon the Rock of Ages, Christ Jesus Himself.

Apart from Christ, the church would have been a useless structure, spiritually. Apart from Christ, there is no shining light. It is because Christ is the Head of the Church that she has survived through the centuries. In spite of bitter persecution, the work of God continued to grow as true disciples remained loyal to Christ. Such loyalty is based on the solid foundation of love. There is no power strong enough to overthrow the Love of Christ (Rom.8:35).

Jesus is the Head of the Church, which is His Body (Col.1:18). He is the Bridegroom of the Church – His Bride. He has chosen to manifest Himself to the world through His Church. Even the Word of God means little to the world unless it is spoken through the voice and demonstrated through the lives of Christians. Christ is the Centre of His Church. The Church is the “theatre of His grace”! Every believer has a vital place and key roles to play in the overall Ministry of the Church: “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ” (1Cor.12:12). We are living stones “being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1Pet.2:5).

Questions to ponder on: Am I a Christian helping to reveal Jesus Christ or one that is hiding my identity? Is my stewardship of character, life, and leadership a beam of light to those in darkness? What am I doing to get the Bread of Life to those who are experiencing famine of the Word? To what extent am I making the Victory of the Cross a reality for those whose lives I touch? Am I an active, growing, and productive member of the Body of Christ; or a useless weight and burden on the Body?