"We Have a Beautiful Church..."
Usually when one hears this expression, the person is speaking of his church building. We of the Church of Christ do indeed have a beautiful Church. But, we speak not of an edifice. We do not have in mind a handsome, well adorned and behaved congregation, although such is the usual case.
We are not referring to an extensive national or world-wide organization. We do not refer to some speckled, multicolored ecumenical combination consisting of different kinds of faith, worship and practices. Let's allow the Bible to inform us about the Church described in its pages:
The church established by Jesus, revealed and described in His New Testament, is the beautiful church.
§ The Church of Christ was designed in heaven, before time began (Eph. 3:9-11, 20-21).
§ It was predicted by Hebrew prophets, hundreds of years before it was established on earth (Is. 2:2-4).
§ It was purchased and paid for by the blood of Jesus as he died on the cross (Acts 20:28).
§ It was founded by Christ himself, on his divine nature as the Son of the living God (Matt. 16:16-18; II Tim. 2:19).
§ It is ruled exclusively by the Lord Jesus (Eph. 1:22).
§ It was set in motion and mentored by the Holy Spirit working directly withe and through Christ's chosen representatives, known as apostles (Acts 1:8-9; 2:1-4).
§ It has been provided with a God-given handbook, fully inspired and authenticated by the Holy Spirit (John 16:13). With it, we can be complete before God and fully furnished unto every good work (II Tim. 3:16-17).
§ Its membership consists of people whose past sins were washed away when they were born of water and Spirit and entered the kingdom (John 3:3-5; Acts 2:38). They are kept free from sin by the cleansing blood of Jesus as they walk in the light of his word (I John 1:7). They are among the best citizens of the earth.
§ The Lord's church is so simple in its faith and worship that the most humble peasant can find a comfortable place within her ranks and yet it is fully adequate for the greatest and wisest of earth (II Cor. 11:3).
§ The Church of Christ is age-lasting, universal in nature, equally suited for the great cities and intellectual centers of the world and for the primitive tribal village in the darkest corners of the earth.
We extend to you our warmest invitation to be a part of Christ's beautiful church.
