CTG 0039

JESUS CONTINUES TO BUILD HIS CHURCH 

Jesus has declared that he will build his church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against her. However we understand these words gates of Hades the important thing for us to understand is that the church will not be extinguished, because we belong to Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord. 

The Bible teaches us that nothing will ever separate us from the love of God, not even death. Absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord. And our bodies will rise again, immortal and imperishable. As followers of Christ, our eternal future is certain in him. Our greatest concern, therefore, should be for those who do not yet know our Saviour.  

Our task as the church is to care for each other and spread the good news of salvation. The church is people. People who are born again by the Spirit of God. People who repent of their sin, who place their trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, following him, by faith. 

In the short or long term ... whether we'll have the use of purpose-built buildings or not ... whether we'll continue to have the use of the internet or not ... the commission our Lord has given to his church remains the same. 

I believe God wants us to be wise. May he preserve us from doing anything foolish. And may he give us insight how to best adapt compassionately to the current evolving circumstances faced by many of our countries. 

We don't all have the same abilities, but together we can do the work that God has called us to do. With love for Christ, for each other and for the lost. 

Jesus is continuing to build his church ... networks, communities, households, even bubbles of believers ... across the generations and nations. And he will come again. We don't know when. But he will come. And we will rise to meet him. 

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless (1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT). 

... I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all ... (1 Timothy 2:1-6 ESV). 

FOR FURTHER READING 

Matthew 16:13-18; 18:20; 24:14,30-31,36; 28:18-20 

John 3:1-21; 10:1-42; 13:34-35 

Romans 8:38-39 

1 Corinthians 12:7-11; 15:50-58

2 Corinthians 5:1-21 

Ephesians 4:11-16; 5:15-21 

Colossians 4:2-6 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 

1 Timothy 2:1-7 

1 Peter 3:8-16; 5:1-11