THE ETERNAL KINGDOM (January 6, 2019)

THE ETERNAL KINGDOM

The church which Christ built is neither denominational nor Protestant.  It possesses no denominating creed, name or hierarchy.  It was not founded in protest to any existing institution.  It is not the product of the "Reformation" or the "Restoration."  But it is, and must be, the full-grown plant which has arisen from the "seed of the kingdom" sown in the hearts of men (Luke 8:11ff).
 
Its origin is to be found in the gospel of Christ (Acts 2:38, 47; Matthew 28:18-20).  It is founded on the apostles and prophets with Christ as the chief corner stone (Ephesians 2:20).  To date its appearance in history earlier or later than the atonement of Christ is futile, for it is His body (Ephesians 1:22, 23), and He purchased it with His own blood (Acts 20:28; Matthew 26:28).  By its very nature, the body is exclusive:  it is one (Ephesians 4:4). There could not conceivably be more than one body, as there is but one head (Colossians 1:18). 
 
In the presence of a divided Christendom, one runs the risk of being misunderstood by suggesting that there is but one church.  It is not here suggested that there is but one "denomination."  The church of Jesus Christ is neither Jewish, Catholic nor Protestant. It is non-denominational in its origin, worship and organization.  It is the body of Christ, functioning according to the New Testament pattern and worshiping according to the New Testament instructions, extensive enough to embrace in its fellowship all who comply with God's requirements and who thus become a part of that body (Acts 2:47;
1 Corinthians 12:13). 

Moving on through time to its ultimate victory this "stone cut out of the mountain without hands" (Daniel 2:44-45) survives the rise and all of temporal kingdoms and proves itself to be that which in reality it is, the Eternal Kingdom. 

                                                                                                            --F. W. Mattox 

  


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