The Church of the Living God (Pt. 1) - A People Called Out
Scriptural Anchors:
Matthew 16:13-19
1 Timothy 3:14-15
The Church and Its Purpose
Jesus first spoke about the church in Matthew 16:18, saying, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it." To understand this, we must consider how His audience interpreted it. Language and meanings evolve, so what Jesus' words conveyed then might differ from our modern assumptions. The term ekklesia, used for "church" in the New Testament, meant "assembly" or "congregation" and had political and governmental implications. To His audience, this wasn’t about a religious institution but a purposeful, governing body advancing God’s kingdom.
The church, as Jesus described, is both global and local. Globally, it includes all believers—over 2 billion today—united as a spiritual family. Locally, it’s a community of believers who gather to worship, fellowship, and grow together, reflecting the unity of the global church. Together, we are called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light, as 1 Peter 2:9 declares, and transferred into His kingdom, as Colossians 1:13 reminds us.
Our purpose extends beyond worship and fellowship. We are an embassy of heaven, ambassadors of God’s kingdom, tasked with advancing His agenda and glorifying Jesus in every sphere of society. When Jesus said the gates of hell would not prevail against His church, He envisioned a body actively pushing back darkness, not merely defending itself. This requires intentionality and alignment with God’s mission, as we bring His light into the world and proclaim His glory everywhere.
Our call to Sanctification
We want to highlight what Ephesians 5:25-27 teaches us about Christ’s love for the church and our calling as His people. It says husbands should love their wives just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her. While this passage speaks to marriage, its deeper focus is on Christ and the church. Jesus didn’t just die for the church; He actively works to sanctify and cleanse us by the washing of water through the Word. His ultimate goal is to present us—the global church—to Himself as a glorious body, holy and without blemish, free from both spots and wrinkles. The term “holy” here doesn’t mean behaving like religious elites but being set apart for God’s purpose, much like special utensils reserved for honored guests.
The process begins with salvation, which is likened to a one-time washing—the washing of regeneration, as mentioned in Titus 3:5. This corresponds to the washing described in Exodus 29:4, where Aaron and his sons were washed as part of their consecration to the priesthood. However, sanctification is an ongoing journey, symbolized in Exodus 30 by the priests washing their hands and feet repeatedly during service. Similarly, salvation cleanses our spots, but sanctification, through the Word, smooths out our wrinkles. It’s a personal, customized process where Christ deals with each of us at our level, addressing one issue after another to bring us closer to His standard. This means we, as the church, cannot camp at salvation. A glorious church is not one that stops at the doorway but one committed to the lifelong journey of sanctification.
Our code of conduct
1 Timothy 3:14-15 shows that there are ways to conduct ourselves within the church. We are not only called out of the world but also given our own system of governance, welfare, and conflict resolution. Paul emphasizes this in 1 Corinthians 6, where he discourages believers from taking disputes to secular courts, urging them instead to resolve issues within the church. Even if it means being cheated for the sake of unity, Paul challenges us to prioritize the body of Christ over personal gain. This shows how seriously God views the church and its harmony.
The Bible also teaches that no believer should lack because the church should provide for its own. It warns against hypocrisy—caring for outsiders while neglecting our own members. Furthermore, our spiritual conduct must reflect decency and order. Prophecies, for instance, should be shared responsibly and with accountability, not recklessly delivered in ways that create confusion or discord.
We are a people called to discern and honor the body of Christ. Like Israel, we must avoid repeating mistakes such as resisting God’s direct voice, desiring to conform to the world, or disrupting church order. Instead, we must embrace our distinctiveness, allowing God to use us in ways that may seem unusual or even “weird” by worldly standards. Ultimately, we are legislators for heaven, a community united under Christ’s headship, striving together toward His glorious standard of holiness.
Conclusion
The church Jesus envisioned is not a passive institution but an active, purposeful body advancing God’s kingdom. We are called to be both global and local communities—united in our mission to reflect God’s light in the world. This mission goes beyond worship and fellowship; we are ambassadors of heaven, called to push back darkness and live out the values of God’s kingdom.
Our journey of sanctification is also ongoing, as Christ works in us to present a glorious, holy church. We must commit to unity, holiness, and mutual care, reflecting God’s love and purpose. While this may set us apart from the world, it is our distinctiveness that allows us to fulfill our calling as a people set apart for God’s purposes. As we grow in love and holiness, we bring glory to God and advance His agenda on earth.
