Church of Lively Stones

Dear Brethren,

Today, there are many substitute churches masquerading as God's True Church.  We must be extremely careful when we are looking for the Church Jesus Christ established.  Too many of our brethren do not understand the concept of "Church."  Some believe that if they get the prophecy right they will have it made.  Some believe it is all about food, or how a person dresses.  "The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit."  (Romans 14:17)

Some brethren believe that "Church" is satisfied by an hour or two of attendance every week.  They think that if you just show up for Sabbath services, you will receive all the perks and benefits.  Others believe "Church" is about finding the key to the Place of Safety or recognizing the man who promises to get you there.  Strangely, a few brethren think that "Church" is about being more righteous than everybody else.  "Church," is not about finding the right corporate organization, or one that is comfortable.  Where is the Church Jesus Christ founded, and who is the head of it?  Where is the True Church of God?

On the entire face of the earth, Jesus Christ has only one Church – the Church of God.  What can we know about this True Church?  What does the Bible reveal about it?  Where is it?  What is it?  Is one church denomination as good as another?  What is the purpose of the Church?  When was the Church founded, and how long will it last?  Can it be joined?  Do we know what the Church of God is?

The New Testament Church of God came into being on the day of Pentecost following the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Some brethren were called by the Father and became Children of God on that day.  We would say that they became "Church members."  God's Spirit was poured out on them for a very special purpose – the establishment of the Church.  There were no buildings, and no organizations – only people who had received the gift of God's Holy Spirit.

Pentecost was not the first time that God gave of His Spirit to men.  In the times preceding the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, God had poured out His Holy Spirit on a select few so that they could perform His Will and record the Word of God. Paul said, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."  (2 Timothy 3:16)

The Church of God is the Spiritual Body of Jesus Christ.  The true Church of God is not a denomination or a corporate organization, but a spiritual entity  The Church is made up of those saints who endeavor to keep God's Commandments in the same way, and to the same extent that Jesus did. The people of the world are not being called at this time.  The Church is made up of those brethren who have been called out of the world into the Body of Christ.  Only a select few people who are given spiritual gifts that are needed for the purposes of God's Will are being called by God at this time.  It is they who will reign and rule with Jesus Christ in the world tomorrow.

When Jesus Christ surveys His Church from His throne of glory, He sees only one Church, one body of people – it is the Body of Christ – the Lord's Body.  All the brethren who are in the Church of God are the "Body of Christ."  There are numerous Biblical examples that clearly state this fact:  "You are the Body of Christ, and members in particular."  (1 Corinthians 12:27)  "The Church, which is His Body."  (Ephesians 1:22-23)  "Ye are called in one Body; and be ye thankful."  (Colossians 3:15)

"We, being many, are one Body in Christ, and every one members one of another."  (Romans 12:4-5)  "The bread which we break, is it not the [fellowship] of the Body of Christ ?  For we being many are one bread, and one Body."  (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)  "For the perfecting of the saints… for the edifying of the Body of Christ."  (Ephesians 4:12)

Only those people whom God the Father draws out of the world, can by repentance, faith in Jesus Christ (as our personal Savior), baptism (through submersion under water), the receiving of the Holy Spirit (by the laying on of hands), become part of the Church.

Jesus Christ established the Church for the purpose of training up and qualifying a people with spiritual knowledge and Godly character to reign and rule with Him in the Millennium.  In order for those in the Church to be able to overcome Satan, they are empowered with a measure of God's Spirit.  "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27)  No pope or man has dominion over an individual's faith because every converted person must work out his own salvation with fear and trembling  (Philippians 2:12, 2 Corinthians 1:24).

The Church is the body of believers, and the firstfruits in God's Plan, who have, and are being led by God's Holy Spirit The brethren of the Church are only the first (fruits) of a great many who will ultimately receive salvation.  The Church is being taught and trained to teach and rule in the millennium under Christ, when He sets His hand to save the rest of mankind.

Jesus says that those in the Church are His brothers and sisters. " For whom He [God the Father] did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren [brothers and sisters]."(Romans 8:29)  "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (Romans 8:14)

Jesus Christ founded His Church for the purpose of providing a nurturing home in which Christians would be able to develop, "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ"  (Ephesians 4:13)  The Church provides the opportunity wherein we are able to, "…consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works." (Hebrews 10:24)

One purpose for God's True Church is to prepare those who are willing to live God's way of righteousness and self-control.  The responsibility and duty of Church brethren is to function as God's tools in helping to eventually bring salvation to humanity, and to demonstrate God's wisdom to His spiritual creation, and ultimately to be in the Kingdom of God.  "For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory." (Hebrews 2:10)  Those who are converted in Christ will, after their salvation and resurrection to eternal life, aid in the conversion of all peoples of the earth.  The Church is only the firstfruits of God's Work and not the end of God's plan of salvation.

The Church's commission is to preach the Gospel, or Good News, of the coming Kingdom of God, and to warn all nations, and especially the lost tribes of the house of Israel, as God gives us the strength.  It takes the combined effort of the brethren to get the job done.  "When they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come." (Matthew 10:23)  "This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."  (Matthew 24:14)

It is God the Father who calls and adds to His Church as He sees fit.  Jesus said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which has sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."  (John 6:44)  "And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." (John 6:65)  Notice how it is only God's prerogative to add to the Church.  "…And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:47)

Those who are a part of the Church, at this time, are given the opportunity to be in the better resurrection (Hebrews 11:35), that is, resurrected to Spirit God-Life, to rule, under the authority of Jesus Christ, as kings and priests throughout the millennium.  "[Jesus] has made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever." (Revelation 1:6) … and we shall reign on the earth. " (Revelation 5:10)  "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished." (Revelation 20:5)

God places each person within the Church where it pleases Him.  He gives unique gifts to the individual members for the profit of all the other members of the Church. This places a great responsibility on each individual Church member to perform for the well-being of the entire Church. " The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal [everyone]. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these works that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ." (1 Corinthians 12:7-12)

It is by the Spirit of God the Father that members are baptized into the one Body of Jesus Christ – the Church.  "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the Body, as it has pleased Him. That there should be no schism in the Body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the Body of Christ, and members in particular." (1 Corinthians 12:13-27) We are individually members of the Body of Christ.

The Church is the Kingdom of God in embryo, and God is reproducing Himself in man.  The Church of God is being taught and trained now.  We will need to know how to teach and rule in the millennium under Christ when He sets His hand to save the rest of mankind.  We are to be learning to teach here and now.  "Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. " (Matthew 28:18-19)

What is the Church to teach?  How are we to let our light shine?  The answer to these two questions is encompassed by the total life of Christ.  What kind of a man was He?  What did He do?  How did He live His life?  What kind of relationship did He have with His Father in heaven?  The answer to those questions is what the Church of God teaches, and that is how the Church is to live. "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:20)

If we are a part of the True Church that Jesus is the head of, we know that God cares how much each of us loves the brethren – and that we lay our lives down for the brethren just AS Jesus laid His life down for us.  That is an absolute requirement for the Church.  We can have all the knowledge in the world, but if we do not have love of the brethren, we have nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2).  Jesus Christ died because He loved us first, and now it is our turn to do as Jesus Christ – our Ultimate Example – did, and love one another.

Jesus Christ is the Living Stone.  " Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious." (1 Peter 2:1-4)

Brethren, you are the Church!  We are the Church!  We are built up to be a spiritual house.  The Church is not an earthly structure, nor a man formed organization.  We Church members, as Jesus Christ is, are to be lively stones.  The Church is the people of God.

"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion [Church] a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."  (1 Peter 2:5-10)

Today, there are many substitutes masquerading as God's True Church.  It behooves us to be extremely careful when we are looking for the Church Jesus established.  Too many of our brethren do not understand the concept of Church."  Some believe that if they get the prophecy right they will have it made.   Some believe it is all about food, or how a person dresses.  The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit."   (Romans 14:17)

Some brethren believe that Church" is satisfied by an hour or two of attendance every week – you show up and you receive all the perks and benefits.  Others believe it is finding the key to the Place of Safety and recognizing the man who promises to get you there.  Strangely, a few brethren think that "Church" is about being more righteous than everybody else.  Church," is not about finding the right organization, or one that is comfortable.  Where is the Church Jesus Christ founded, and who is the head of it?  Where is the True Church of God?

On the entire face of the earth, Jesus Christ has only one Church – the Church of God.  What can we know about the True Church – what does the Bible reveal?  Where is it?  What is it?  Is one church as good as another?  What is the purpose of the Church?  When was the Church founded, and how long will it last?  Can it be joined?  Do we know what the Church of God is?

The New Testament Church of God came into being on the day of Pentecost following the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Many brethren were called by the Father and became Children of God on that day.  We would say that they became, Church members."  God's Spirit was poured out on many for a very special purpose – that was the establishment of the Church.  There were no buildings, and no organizations, only people who had received the gift of God's Holy Spirit.

Pentecost was not the first time that God gave of His Spirit to men.  In the times preceding the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, God had poured out His Holy Spirit on a select few so that they could perform His Will and record the Word of God.  Speaking of this, Paul said, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."  (2 Timothy 3:16)

The Church of God is the Spiritual Body of Jesus Christ.   The Church is made up of those who endeavor to keep God's Commandments in the same way, and to the same extent that Jesus did. The world is not being called at this time.  Only a select few people who are given spiritual gifts that are needed for the purposes of God's Will are being called at this time.  It is they who will reign and rule with Jesus Christ in the world tomorrow.

When Jesus Christ surveys His Church from His throne of glory, He sees only one Church, one body of people – it is the Body of Christ – the Lord's Body.  All the brethren who are in the Church of God are the "Body of Christ."  There are numerous Biblical examples:  "You are the Body of Christ , and members in particular."   (1 Corinthians 12:27) "The Church, which is His body ."   (Ephesians 1:22-23)  "Ye are called in one body ; and be ye thankful. "   (Colossians 3:15)

"We, being many, are one Body in Christ , and every one members one of another."   (Romans 12:4-5)  "The bread which we break, is it not the [fellowship] of the Body of Christ ?  For we being many are one bread, and one body."   (1 Corinthians 10:16-17) "For the perfecting of the saints …for the edifying of the Body of Christ ."   (Ephesians 4:12)

Jesus Christ established the Church for the purpose of training up and qualifying a people with spiritual knowledge and Godly character to reign and rule with Him in the Millennium.  In order for those in the Church to be able to overcome Satan, they are empowered with a measure of God's Spirit.  "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."   (Colossians 1:27)

The Church is the body of believers, and the firstfruits in Gods plan, who have and are being led by the Holy Spirit .   Jesus says that they are His brothers and sisters.   For whom He [God the Father] did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8:29)  "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (Romans  8:14)

Jesus Christ founded His Church for the purpose of providing a nurturing home in which Christians would be able to develop, "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ"  (Ephesians 4:13)  And, the Church provides the opportunity wherein we are able to, "…consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works."  (Hebrews 10:24)

The purpose for God's Church is to prepare those who are willing to live His way of righteousness and self-control.  The responsibility and duty of Church brethren is to function as God's tools in helping to bring salvation to humanity, and to demonstrate God's wisdom to His spiritual creation, and ultimately to be in the Kingdom of God.  For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory."  (Hebrews 2:10)  Those who are converted in Christ will, after their salvation and resurrection to eternal life, aid in the conversion of all peoples of the earth.  The Church is only the firstfruits of God's Work and not the end of God's plan of salvation.

The Church's commission is to preach the gospel (good news) of the coming Kingdom of God, and to warn all nations, and especially the lost tribes of the house of Israel, as God gives us the strength.  It takes the combined effort of the brethren to get the job done.  "When they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come."  (Matthew 10:23)  "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."  (Matthew 24:14)

It is God the Father who calls and adds to His Church as He sees fit.  Jesus said, No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."  (John 6:44) And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father."  (John 6:65)   Notice how it is only God's prerogative to add to the Church. "Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved."  (Acts 2:47)

Those who are a part of the Church, at this time, are given the opportunity to be in the better resurrection (Hebrews 11:35), that is, resurrected to Spirit God-life, to rule, under the authority of Jesus Christ, as kings and priests throughout the millennium.  [Jesus] has made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever."  (Revelation 1:6) …and we shall reign on the earth."  (Revelation 5:10)  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished."  (Revelation 20:5)

God places each person within the Church where it pleases Him.He gives unique gifts to the individual members for the profit of all the other members of the Church.  This places a great responsibility on each individual Church member to perform for the well-being of the entire Church.  The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal [everyone].  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ."  (1 Corinthians 12:7-12)

It is by the Spirit of God the Father that many members are all baptized into the one  Body of Jesus Christ – the Church.  "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?  And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?  If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.  That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.  And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."  (1 Corinthians 12:13-27)  We are individually members of the body of Christ.

The Church is the Kingdom of God in embryo, and God is reproducing Himself in man.  The Church of God is being taught and trained now.  We will need to know how to teach and rule in the millennium under Christ when He sets His hand to save the rest of mankind.  We are to be learning to teach here and now.  Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."  (Matthew 28:18-19)

What is the Church to teach?  How are we to let our light shine?  The answer to these two questions is encompassed by the total life of Christ.  What kind of a man was He?  What did He do?  How did He live His life?  What kind of relationship did He have with His Father in heaven?  The answer to those questions is what the Church of God teaches, and that is how the Church is to live.  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."  (Matthew 28:20)

If we are a part of the True Church that Jesus is the head of, we know that God cares about how much each of us loves the brethren and that we lay our lives down for the brethren as Jesus laid His life down for us.  We can have all the knowledge in the world, but if we do not have love of the brethren, we have nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2).  Jesus Christ died because He loved us first, and now it is our turn to try and do as Jesus Christ - our Ultimate Example - did, and love one another.

Jesus Christ is the Living Stone.  Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:  If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.  To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious."   (1 Peter 2:1-4)

Brethren, you are the Church!  We are the Church!  We are built up to be a spiritual house – the Church is not an earthly structure, nor a man formed organization.  We Church members, as Jesus Christ is, are to be lively stones.

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But 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:  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."   (1 Peter 2:5-10)

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Sermon:  "Church of Lively Stones"

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