Church Triumphant
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the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of
God through the Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:19-22
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And to the Corinthians he wrote: “According to the grace of God
which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the
foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take
heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man
lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build
upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s
work of what sort it is.”
1 Corinthians 3:10-13
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The apostles built upon a sure foundation, even the Rock of Ages.
To this foundation they brought the stones that they quarried from the
world. Not without hindrance did the builders labor. Their work was
made exceedingly difficult by the opposition of the enemies of Christ.
They had to contend against the bigotry, prejudice, and hatred of those
who were building upon a false foundation. Many who wrought as
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builders of the church could be likened to the builders of the wall in
Nehemiah’s day, of whom it is written: “They which builded on the
wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, everyone with
one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a
weapon.”
Nehemiah 4:17
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Kings and governors, priests and rulers, sought to destroy the
temple of God. But in the face of imprisonment, torture, and death,
faithful men carried the work forward; and the structure grew, beautiful
and symmetrical. At times the workmen were almost blinded by the
mists of superstition that settled around them. At times they were
almost overpowered by the violence of their opponents. But with
unfaltering faith and unfailing courage they pressed on with the work.
One after another the foremost of the builders fell by the hand of
the enemy. Stephen was stoned; James was slain by the sword; Paul
was beheaded; Peter was crucified; John was exiled. Yet the church
grew. New workers took the place of those who fell, and stone after
stone was added to the building. Thus slowly ascended the temple of
the church of God.
Centuries of fierce persecution followed the establishment of the
Christian church, but there were never wanting men who counted
the work of building God’s temple dearer than life itself. Of such it