In light of the low view of God's Church prevalent among some today, it seems fitting to present the Biblical view of the Church.
It will include copious "addresses," so that like the Bereans, one may search the Scriptures to see if it is true (Ac 17:11).
And it will be comprehensive, so maybe it should be a study, rather than just a read.
So here 'tis.
"Contrary to popular opinion," the Bible has a very high view of the Church, presenting it as:
the called-out people of God, going back to Abraham
(Ge 12:1; Gal 3:7-8, 16, 29; Ro 4:16, 11:16-17; Eph 3:6, 1Pe 2:9-10),
the body of Christ and the singular vessel (Eph 2:11-22, 3:6), the one vine (Hos 10:1; Jn 15:5),
the one tree (Ro 11:17-24), the one fold (Jn 10:16), and new creation (Eph 2:14),
wherein God demonstrates the wisdom of his counsels, for the instructing of the angels
(Eph 3:10-11; cf 1Co 4:9, 11:10; 1Pe 1:12; 1Tim 5:21; Heb 1:;22; Lk 15:7).
It is the New Jerusalem, the holy city; Mount Zion, the holy mountain (Heb12:22),
the circumcision (Php 3:3), the Israel of God (Gal 6:16),
the chosen people, royal priesthood, holy nation (1Pe 2:9), the seed of Abraham (Ro 4:11; Gal 3:29),
in whom God's eternal purpose from before the foundations of the world has been to prepare her as a bride, without spot or blemish, to present her radiant to the Lamb, his only begotten Son
(Eph 1:4-5, 5:25-32; Rev 19:7-8, 21:1-2, 9-14).
All of history and all of time are for this single eternal purpose of God--to prepare a bride for his Son.
The OT revealed the plan in types and shadows (Ge 18:18; Ex 15:17; Ps 45:9-15, 48:1-14; Is 2:2-3,
11:9, 24:23, 25:6-10, 26:1-2, 42:6, 55:3-5, 56:6-8, 60:1-22, 62:1-5, 65:1, 17-25, 66:20-24).
Christ secured the plan on the cross (Eph 5:23-25; Tit 2:14),
and the NT reveals the plan in full
(Ro 16:25-26; Eph 1:9-10, 3:3-6, 8-11, 5:32; Col 1:26-28, 2:2-3; Rev 10:7, 11:15, 16:17, 21:6).
So that all those not called to that single purpose (Ro 8:28-30; Eph 1:9-11, 3:10-11; Php 2:13;
2Tim 1:9); i.e.,
all those not included in the bride of the Lamb (aka, the Church, the body of Christ, the new creation,
Mount Zion, the New Jerusalem, the kingdom of God, the new creation) are eternally lost outsiders
(Ro 11:23; Rev 22:14-15; cf 1Co 6:9-10; Eph 5:5; Gal 5:19-21)
because they are not part of the eternal plan secured by the sacrifice of the Lamb
(Eph 1:22-23, 5:23-32; Ac 4:12).
In the light of Jesus' revelation (Heb 1:1-2), which is the NT given though his apostles, we learn that God has only one purpose in human history (Eph 1:8-11),
and that purpose is his Church, the Bride of the Lamb and the body of his Christ
(Eph 1:22-23, 2:11-22, 3:6; Col 1:16-20; Rev 11:15).
That Church is the goal of all his counsels
(Ro 8:30, 9:22-24--cf Ex 12:36; Dt 4:37-38; 1Chr 17:12-14; Pr 13:22, 21:18: Is 43:3-4; Rev 21:6),
the showcase of his wisdom (Eph 3:10-11) and the crown jewel of his new creation (Rev 21:1, 11, 18-21).
It alone is the true Temple (Eph 2:19-22) and the singular residence of his glory (Rev 21:22-23).
In the light of the Jesus' revelation, which is the NT, we see that the prophetic types; e.g.,
the promised land (Ge 17:8, 48:4),
the kingdom (2Sa 7:16,; Is 9:7),
Mount Zion, the holy mountain (Ps 68:16; Is 2:2, 24:23),
Jerusalem, the holy city (Jer 3:16-18; Rev 21),
the bride (Eze 16:32; Is 62:5; Jer 3:6-20),
the Temple (Eze 40-44; Zec 6:12-13),
the priesthood (Is 61:1-7, 66:19-21), etc.
have their completion in Christ, and in his body, the Church (2Co 1:20; Mt 12:28; Lk 17:21; Heb 12:22; 1Pe 2:5, 9-10),
either in time on earth, in eternity in the new creation, or both;
for the Church is that new creation both of time (2 Co 4:16, 5:17; Gal 6:15) and eternity (Rev 21:1, 4-8),
which is the restoring or renewal of the original creation (Ge 1:27 w/Col 3:10 & Eph 4:24 & Tit 3:5;
Ge 1:28 w/Mt 19:28 & 1Co 6:2-3; Ge 2:24 w/Mt 18:8-9; Ro 8:19-23 w/2Pe 3:12-13).
It is in the light of Jesus' revelation, the NT, that we see the marvelous uniity of the divine plan (Eph 4:4-6),
as well as of the whole Bible.
It will include copious "addresses," so that like the Bereans, one may search the Scriptures to see if it is true (Ac 17:11).
And it will be comprehensive, so maybe it should be a study, rather than just a read.
So here 'tis.
"Contrary to popular opinion," the Bible has a very high view of the Church, presenting it as:
the called-out people of God, going back to Abraham
(Ge 12:1; Gal 3:7-8, 16, 29; Ro 4:16, 11:16-17; Eph 3:6, 1Pe 2:9-10),
the body of Christ and the singular vessel (Eph 2:11-22, 3:6), the one vine (Hos 10:1; Jn 15:5),
the one tree (Ro 11:17-24), the one fold (Jn 10:16), and new creation (Eph 2:14),
wherein God demonstrates the wisdom of his counsels, for the instructing of the angels
(Eph 3:10-11; cf 1Co 4:9, 11:10; 1Pe 1:12; 1Tim 5:21; Heb 1:;22; Lk 15:7).
It is the New Jerusalem, the holy city; Mount Zion, the holy mountain (Heb12:22),
the circumcision (Php 3:3), the Israel of God (Gal 6:16),
the chosen people, royal priesthood, holy nation (1Pe 2:9), the seed of Abraham (Ro 4:11; Gal 3:29),
in whom God's eternal purpose from before the foundations of the world has been to prepare her as a bride, without spot or blemish, to present her radiant to the Lamb, his only begotten Son
(Eph 1:4-5, 5:25-32; Rev 19:7-8, 21:1-2, 9-14).
All of history and all of time are for this single eternal purpose of God--to prepare a bride for his Son.
The OT revealed the plan in types and shadows (Ge 18:18; Ex 15:17; Ps 45:9-15, 48:1-14; Is 2:2-3,
11:9, 24:23, 25:6-10, 26:1-2, 42:6, 55:3-5, 56:6-8, 60:1-22, 62:1-5, 65:1, 17-25, 66:20-24).
Christ secured the plan on the cross (Eph 5:23-25; Tit 2:14),
and the NT reveals the plan in full
(Ro 16:25-26; Eph 1:9-10, 3:3-6, 8-11, 5:32; Col 1:26-28, 2:2-3; Rev 10:7, 11:15, 16:17, 21:6).
So that all those not called to that single purpose (Ro 8:28-30; Eph 1:9-11, 3:10-11; Php 2:13;
2Tim 1:9); i.e.,
all those not included in the bride of the Lamb (aka, the Church, the body of Christ, the new creation,
Mount Zion, the New Jerusalem, the kingdom of God, the new creation) are eternally lost outsiders
(Ro 11:23; Rev 22:14-15; cf 1Co 6:9-10; Eph 5:5; Gal 5:19-21)
because they are not part of the eternal plan secured by the sacrifice of the Lamb
(Eph 1:22-23, 5:23-32; Ac 4:12).
In the light of Jesus' revelation (Heb 1:1-2), which is the NT given though his apostles, we learn that God has only one purpose in human history (Eph 1:8-11),
and that purpose is his Church, the Bride of the Lamb and the body of his Christ
(Eph 1:22-23, 2:11-22, 3:6; Col 1:16-20; Rev 11:15).
That Church is the goal of all his counsels
(Ro 8:30, 9:22-24--cf Ex 12:36; Dt 4:37-38; 1Chr 17:12-14; Pr 13:22, 21:18: Is 43:3-4; Rev 21:6),
the showcase of his wisdom (Eph 3:10-11) and the crown jewel of his new creation (Rev 21:1, 11, 18-21).
It alone is the true Temple (Eph 2:19-22) and the singular residence of his glory (Rev 21:22-23).
In the light of the Jesus' revelation, which is the NT, we see that the prophetic types; e.g.,
the promised land (Ge 17:8, 48:4),
the kingdom (2Sa 7:16,; Is 9:7),
Mount Zion, the holy mountain (Ps 68:16; Is 2:2, 24:23),
Jerusalem, the holy city (Jer 3:16-18; Rev 21),
the bride (Eze 16:32; Is 62:5; Jer 3:6-20),
the Temple (Eze 40-44; Zec 6:12-13),
the priesthood (Is 61:1-7, 66:19-21), etc.
have their completion in Christ, and in his body, the Church (2Co 1:20; Mt 12:28; Lk 17:21; Heb 12:22; 1Pe 2:5, 9-10),
either in time on earth, in eternity in the new creation, or both;
for the Church is that new creation both of time (2 Co 4:16, 5:17; Gal 6:15) and eternity (Rev 21:1, 4-8),
which is the restoring or renewal of the original creation (Ge 1:27 w/Col 3:10 & Eph 4:24 & Tit 3:5;
Ge 1:28 w/Mt 19:28 & 1Co 6:2-3; Ge 2:24 w/Mt 18:8-9; Ro 8:19-23 w/2Pe 3:12-13).
It is in the light of Jesus' revelation, the NT, that we see the marvelous uniity of the divine plan (Eph 4:4-6),
as well as of the whole Bible.
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