THE UNBLEMISHED CHURCH!!!
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
When people think about church, they often visualize a building with a cross on top and a place where people gather to hear a sermon or a choir sing or witness a christening or baptism of a child. Many churches uphold yearly traditions and support ministries designed to promote the life and love of Jesus Christ. Many functions of the church are developed to improve fellowship between members of the congregation and between leaders. Each church follows by laws that sets the standard of their denomination and organizes their praise and worship presentation.
Today there are over 200 denominations in America and over 45,000 worldwide Christian faith-based churches. Christians form the biggest religious group in the world, approx. 2.3 billion even more than Muslim, approx. 1.8 billion, Hindu 1.1 billion and Buddhism, approx. 500 million. When one weigsh the effectiveness of the church over a broken and dark world, one will discover a flip, the results show the world has a greater influence over the church and the abyss between the Church and the world is widening leading to a greater separation of man and God. This is so because the "Church" has fallen asleep and abandoned her post.
For example:
The fostercare system is self destructive, Poverty is increasing, the value of life is decreasing, the hearts of men are growing colder and despair is infesting the youth. In America many students leave faith believing homes and attend higher learning institutions and return unbelieving. Many adolescents base their denomination by their parent’s faith but they themselves don't attend or get involved with a church. Many adults live together unmarried but wears a cross for protection. Some celebrate pagan holidays, believe in abortions, promote gambling and alcohol consumption etc... etc...
When the bible states Christ will return for an unblemished church, the question must be asked which church is Christ returning for?
Is it a denomination? ... No! Is it a building with walls? ... No! Is it the congregation with the most influential Pastor, Priest or church leader? ... No! Then who? What does the scriptures say?
Ephesians 5:5 KJV
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for
us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once
named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish
talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man,
who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh
the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in
the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all
goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but
rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which
are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made
manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and
Christ shall give thee light.
Christ is returning for those he has called from the beginning (a church without blemish). When a person is called, Christ doesn't look and at where the person is or from neither does he count the number of sins the person is burdened with but prepares him/her for what he has prepared for the person leading to fulfillment of purpose.
For Example: A person criticizes and spreads gossip about other people, now Christ knows this person's negative character extends from insecurities created from offense or abuse in his/her past but his Holy Spirit will teach and mold this person day by day, month by month, year by year into a PERFECT child of God. The condition, though. is the person having to stay obedient. (Stay determined) A person in the beginning may not understand any of the scriptures in the bible but he/she can sing, pray or give his/her testimony. Christ is returning for a people with a contrite & humble heart, faithful, passionate and have a reasonable response of love towards him and others, so in other words, if he reveals his love to a person, he/she will reciprocate the same love to others.
The following is not rules to dictate to anyone but a guide of Christs' living standard of a reasonable response to his love:
Daily prayer, speak words of life and not death, show mercy and grace, continually read the word to get empowered and a strengthen foundation, learn spiritual warfare, learn from mistakes, refrain from habits that lead to addiction, focus on self-control. Again, none of these things can be done on a person's own abilities but through the Holy Spirit, who restores, transforms, restitutes, redeems, justifies, substitutes, sanctifies, predestines, reconciles and regenerates.
Supportive scriptures
Gal 5:13-26 KJV
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;
Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Epeshians 6:10-20 KJV
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
James 3:5-8 KJV
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
John 7:38
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Romans 8:28-30 KJV
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified:and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!!! … by Rabakk