Basic HTML Version
God’s Church to Reflect His Glory, July 1
Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you
out of darkness into his marvellous light.
1 Peter 2:9
.
The church is God’s appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was orga-
nized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the
beginning it has been God’s plan that through His church shall be reflected to the
world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom
He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory.
The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the
church will eventually be made manifest, even to “the principalities and powers in
heavenly places” (
Ephesians 3:10
), the final and full display of the love of God.
Many and wonderful are the promises recorded in the Scriptures regarding the
church. “Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people” (
Isaiah 56:7
).
“I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing” (
Ezekiel 34:26
)....
“Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually
before me” (
Isaiah 49:16
).
The church is God’s fortress, His city of refuge, which He holds in a revolted
world. Any betrayal of the church is treachery to Him who has bought mankind
with the blood of His only-begotten Son. From the beginning, faithful souls have
constituted the church on earth. In every age the Lord has had His watchmen,
who have borne a faithful testimony to the generation in which they lived. These
sentinels gave the message of warning; and when they were called to lay off
their armor, others took up the work. God brought these witnesses into covenant
relation with Himself, uniting the church on earth with the church in heaven. He
has sent forth His angels to minister to His church, and the gates of hell have not
been able to prevail against His people.
Through centuries of persecution, conflict, and darkness, God has sustained
His church. Not one cloud has fallen upon it that He has not prepared for; not one
opposing force has risen to counterwork His work, that He has not foreseen. All
has taken place as He predicted. He has not left His church forsaken, but has traced
in prophetic declarations what would occur, and that which His Spirit inspired the
prophets to foretell has been brought about. All His purposes will be fulfilled.
His law is linked with His throne, and no power of evil can destroy it. Truth is
inspired and guarded by God; and it will triumph over all opposition.—
The Acts
of the Apostles, 9-12
.
[197]
196