The Church
Why do we long so badly to be with others? Why is isolation so destructive? Why do we long to be included? Because we were not made to do life alone, evidenced by God saying of Adam, “It’s not good that the man should be alone.”
So, when Adam’s sin tore people apart, Jesus’ cross brings people together. . While Adam sinks all people into sin, Jesus raises up a new people to salvation. Because the cross not only reconciles people to God vertically, but it also reconciles people to each other horizontally. So, when Jesus died and rose, He brought His Gospel giving birth to a New Humanity called the Church.
All disciples of Jesus are a part of the universal Church historically and globally, and are also called to commit to a specific church locally. The Church is made up of all those who are filled by the Spirit of Jesus, to believe in Jesus, and be conformed to Jesus, as they gather around Jesus, and proclaim Jesus, to a world that desperately needs Jesus, until the return of Jesus. The Church is made for Jesus and brought together by Jesus for the glory of Jesus.
Jesus chose the Church, loves the Church, died for the Church, to unite Himself so closely with the Church that if you were to persecute the Church of Jesus you are actually persecuting Jesus Himself. The Church is the body and bride of Christ, the family of God, the temple of God, and living stones built upon Christ the cornerstone, filled with the Holy Spirit, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against Her. Jesus fills the Church, equips the Church, empowers the Church, and gives gifts and leaders to the Church to propel the church out on His mission.
Psalm 118:22, Isaiah 28:16, Acts 9:1-5, Romans 12:4-5, 1 Corinthians 1:7, 1 Corinthians 3:11, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 10:17, 2 Corinthians 11:12, 2 Corinthians 6:18, Galatians 6:10, Ephesians 2:19-22, Ephesians 4:12, Ephesians 5:23, Ephesians 5:25-26, 1 Timothy 5:1, Hebrews 3:6, 1 Peter 2:5-7, Revelation 19:7-8, Revelation 21:9