To the general assembly and church of the firstborn,which are written in heaven.--Hebrews 12:23. p. 1, Para. 1, [THECHUR]. WHAT IS THE CHURCH? p. 1, Para. 2, [THECHUR].The first of the "larger questions" set for considerationin that World-Conference on Faith and Order is "The Church:its Nature and Functions." It has been officially stated that this conference "aims to encompass representatives of practically every nation and race and people and languagein the world." p. 1, Para. 3, [THECHUR].This being so in their purpose, and The Church being thefirst of all the questions to receive the attention of theconference, it follows that this question of "The Church:its Nature and Functions," is to be made of firstimportance in and to every nation and race and people and language in the world. That being so, it now is of no lessimportance that every person should know for himself--1. What in truth is The Church? And then, in the light of thistruth, to know--2. What in the idea and purpose of thisconference is the Church? In the purpose of thatconference, this is to be the greatest question in theworld. And, not in the way that they of the conference meanit, but in real spirit and truth it is the greatestquestion in the world: And not only is it the greatestquestion in the world, but the greatest in all the wideuniverse of God. p. 1, Para. 4, [THECHUR].Only The Bible Can Tell.--What, then, in truth, is TheChurch? p. 1, Para. 5, [THECHUR].Only the Bible can tell. For it is in the Bible only thatthere is found the idea of The Church, whether original orultimate, and the truth of all concerning it. And the Bibledoes tell: plainly and fully. In truth The Church is theoriginal and fundamental thing that is considered in theBible. p. 1, Para. 6, [THECHUR].The idea of The Church transcends that of creation itself,and antedates the fact of creation. p. 1, Para. 7,[THECHUR].The Bible, therefore, is the only source of information or
of knowledge on the subject of The Church. p. 1, Para. 8,[THECHUR].The Fulness of Him.--What does the Bible say that TheChurch is?--This: p. 1, Para. 9, [THECHUR]."The Church...is...the fulness of Him that filleth all inall."--Eph. 1: 22, 23. Note that this word does not saythat The Church is the fulness of all in all. But it saysthat The Church is the fulness of Him that filleth all inall. Who is He who filleth all in all?--Only God, to besure: God in Christ by the Holy Spirit. What is the extentof this fulness?--Here it is: p. 1, Para. 10, [THECHUR]."Do not I fill heaven and earth, saith the Lord?"--Jer.23: 24. p. 1, Para. 11, [THECHUR]."Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? Or whither shall Iflee from Thy presence? "If I ascend into heaven, Thou artthere: if I make my bed in hell, behold Thou art there. "IfI take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me. "If I say, Surely thedarkness shall cover me; even the night shall be lightabout me."--Ps. 139:7-10. p. 1, Para. 12, [THECHUR].He fills heaven and earth. The Church is the fulness ofHim. Therefore The Church--The Church of the Bible, TheChurch of God, the true Church--fills heaven and earth.That conclusion and truth is simply unescapable. p. 1,Para. 13, [THECHUR].The Reconciled.--"He is the Head of the body--TheChurch:... For it pleased the Father that in Him should allfulness dwell. p. 2, Para. 1, [THECHUR]."And having made peace through the blood of His cross, byHim to reconcile all things unto Himself: p. 2, Para. 2,[THECHUR]."By Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or thingsin heaven."--Col. 1:18-20. p. 2, Para. 3, [THECHUR].The idea of The Church of the Bible and of God embracesheaven and earth; and that Church in truth fills heaven and earth. Whosoever in the earth is reconciled to God by the blood of the cross, is a member of The Church; and
whosoever in heaven is reconciled to the same God by thesame blood of the same cross, is a member of the sameChurch. p. 2, Para. 4, [THECHUR].One sublime arm of the Cross of Christ embraces heaven,the other embraces the earth; and thus by the Cross ofCalvary, both heaven and earth are embraced in the oneHeart of Love and are reconciled to God. And thisreconciled universe is The Church which "is the fulness ofHim." p. 2, Para. 5, [THECHUR].The Unified.--"Having made known unto us the mystery ofHis will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself--"That in the dispensation of thefulness of times He might gather together in one all thingsin Christ, which are in heaven, and which are in earth:even in Him."--Eph. 1:9, 10. p. 2, Para. 6, [THECHUR].Another translation is that God is "bringing the universetogether under one Head": "the whole universe of created beings." This scripture tells, then, that in Christ God isunifying with Himself the universe of intelligences--allthings that are in heaven and that are in earth. p. 2,Para. 7, [THECHUR].And that unified universe is The Church. p. 2, Para. 8,[THECHUR].In all the wide universe, whosoever is unified with God inChrist by the Holy Spirit, and whether he be seraph,cherub, angel, or man, he is a member of The Church; and noother is. p. 2, Para. 9, [THECHUR].And that is The Church: and nothing else is. p. 2, Para.10, [THECHUR].The Household.--Ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and stranger from the covenantsof promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. p. 2, Para. 11, [THECHUR].But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far offare made nigh by the blood of Christ. p. 2, Para. 12,[THECHUR].Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, butfellow-citizens with the saints, and of the Household of
Search History:
Result 00 of 00
00 results for result for
p.
More From This User
Notes
Load more
