THE ROCK....Understanding important truths from the Bible….

Matthew 16:18  NKJV

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

I love the Church.  And when I say this I mean the local manifestation of it, wherever it is found.  But there must be a disclaimer stated here, “All buildings which have the name Church on them do not house a church and all groups who call themselves a church do not make it so.

There are certain distinguishing marks of the church which are found where that name is claimed.

First is the truth that any true church is the House of God, I Timothy 3:15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.  This brings both a realization and a responsibility.  When Jacob first left his parents to seek a wife of his father’s countrymen, he had an experience that cannot be overstated in its importance to him and to us.  This is found in Genesis 28:16-19  Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.”¹⁷ And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”

¹⁸ Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. ¹⁹ And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously.  The statement with which I am concerned is found in VSS 16-17, 19, “This is none other than the house of God.”  The place was actually a desert spot where he lay his head on a stone.  But there was established the great truth “Bethel” is where God is.

For any particular church to be a true church God must be there.  This is the issue.  All people who believe there is a God, believe He is there where they assemble.  How easily Matthew 18:20 comes to the lips of men who want to claim their church has God’s presence.  For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”  This is thought to be enough.  Nothing else is required other than a gathering in His name.

Jesus left to His Church--and this Church is known only by its local expression--three particular necessities.  He left a government, He left gifts, and He left sufficient grace.  It is a true church only where these are found.

A church in disorder without any governmental oversight is not Bethel.  A church without the gifts of Pastors and teachers is not Bethel.  A church that does not live in the abundant grace of Christ is not Bethel.

Too long we have excused local assemblies who demonstrate none of the characteristics of God’s church.  We have allowed undisciplined congregations, ungifted and unbiblical ministries, and gospel-denying groups to claim the authority of God’s church.

A holy gathering of converted people in the name of the Triune God for the purpose of worship and testimony is a beautiful sight and in this day equally rare.

In Exodus 32:6 we find that they “sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play”.  A more apt description of most particular churches cannot be found.  But it only happens after the calf has been accepted in the name of “The Lord”.