The Church Is Not A Building

“Jesus said to them, who do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered; you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus said to him…I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:15-18)

Christ is the rock and the church is his body. Hades is where the body and soul dwell when members of the church die (which is the grave). 

The church is not a building to attend or an organization to join. God Himself defined the Church as the “body" of Christ…

“…gave him as head over all things to the church, which is His body...” (Ephesians 1:22-23)

You do not join or go to church. If you are a part of it, it is only because God has placed you into it…

“God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.” (1 Corinthians 12:18)

Modern church buildings were built and organized by men, God is not the contractor of such buildings.  

Members of the body of Christ (the church) are present anywhere that there are humans who have faith that 1) Jesus died for their sins, 2) was entombed, and that 3) God raised from the dead. When the New Testament was being written there were some throughout Galatia, some in Jerusalem, some in Ephesus, some in Corinth, some in Thessalonica, some in Colossi, some in Philippi, some in Rome, some at the lake, and some down by the river. 

Today there are some in Sayre, some in Elk City, and some in other cities throughout globe. Some prefer to go to a church building on Sunday to be with friends, and others prefer to fish or play golf on Sunday with friends - and there is nothing wrong with any of that.

Todays tax exempt church organizations were built by humans, not God, and you find them in almost all cities in the US and around the world. They have staff and agendas, and an implied rule that if you are an obedient follower of Jesus you will join the local fellowship, go regularly to its place of worship,  and support its programs and creeds. Think about it, that is how the Jewish religious leaders felt about their Synagogues. What did God think about the religious gatherings?

“I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies…what do I care about incense from Sheba or sweet calamus from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please me.” (Amos 5:21; Jeremiah 6:20)

How will Jesus view our "solemn assemblies" when he returns.

Church buildings may serve a purpose for those people who need the fellowship of other humans for moral and spiritual support; and, I suppose it is not a sin to go there to meet that need. But IT IS SINFUL to suggest that members of the body of Christ who do not attend a local church building and support its programs are disobedient to God. 

Members of the body of Christ, the Church, are to work hard to "correctly explain the word of truth".

"Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)

And they are to help those in need without telling everyone about it...

"When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get." (Matthew 6:2)

What we do and what we teach will be "manifested in front of the Dais of Christ", the raised platform before the "Great White Throne". There each of us will be judged according to our acts,

"For all of us must be manifested in front of the Dais of Christ, that each should be requited for that which he puts into practice through the body, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10 CLV)

"And I perceived a Great White Throne, and Him Who is sitting upon it, from Whose face earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them." And I perceived the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. And the scrolls were opened. And another scroll was opened which is the scroll of life. And the dead were judged by that which is written in the scrolls in accord with their acts." (Revelation 20:11-12 CLV)

Those acts include what is taught in the local solemn assemblies! The bad stuff will be burnt up - I am glad.

"For other foundation can no one lay beside that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Now if anyone is building on this foundation gold and silver, precious stones, wood, grass, straw, each one's work will become apparent, for the day will make it evident, for it is being revealed by fire. And the fire, it will be testing each one's work - what kind it is." If anyone's work will be remaining which he builds on it, he will get wages. If anyone's work shall be burned up, he will forfeit it, yet he shall be saved, yet thus, as through fire." Are you not aware that you are a temple of God and the spirit of God is making its home in you? If anyone is corrupting the temple of God, God will be corrupting him, for the temple of God is holy, which you are." Let no one be deluding himself. If anyone among you is presuming to be wise in this eon, let him become stupid, that he may be becoming wise, for the wisdom of this world is stupidity with God." (1 Corinthians 3:11-19)

The "temple of God" is not a building project - it is inside the members of the body of Christ, wherever you may find one.

“…avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:23-26)

It will be found that the teachings presented in the four gospels (especially the Sermon on the Mount), but also in Acts, Hebrews, James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude and Revelation, are in exact accord with the Old Testament predictions regarding that restored Kingdom promised to ISRAEL. They are almost wholly in disagreement with the teachings of grace for ALL as presented by Paul in his letters.

Failure to keep these teaching separate when studying the Scripture is the basis, in my opinion, for all of the theological differences found among the various sects of Christianity and Messianic Judaism.

A prime example is that almost every Christian teacher I know and commentary I have read equates the “Body of Christ” and “the Bride of Christ”. Actually, there is no phrase “Bride of Christ” found in Scripture, just “the Bride, the Lamb’s wife”. The “Bride” is never spoken of by Paul, the bearer of the gospel of grace for ALL. Nor is the “Body” ever spoken of by the Peter, John and the apostles to Israel and bearers of the gospel of the KINGDOM. Traditional theology with its careless instruction has united the purpose and program of God for “the church which is His Body” with “the Bride, the Lamb’s wife”.

Few seem to care and I suppose knowing the difference will not change God’s plan. However, if any of you teachers of the Bible care about being accurate let me suggest to you the following division of the 66 books of the Bible:

Scripture for ISRAEL and their Gentile proselytes: All of the Old Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Hebrews, James, 1-3 John, 1-2 Peter, Jude and Revelation...

THESE BOOKS WILL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM, THE OLD AND NEW COVENANTS GOD HAS MADE WITH ISRAEL, AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THE “BRIDE, THE LAMB’S WIFE” ON THIS EARTH DURING THE KINGDOM AGE AND THE FINAL AGE OF THE NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH.

Scripture for Gentiles and those Israelites who embrace the gospel of grace: 

Paul’s letters…Romans thru Philemon...

THESE LETTERS WILL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT THE GOSPEL OF GRACE, THE DESTINY OF THE "CHURCH which is His BODY", and THE EVENTUAL SALVATION OF ALL AND THE FINAL RECONCILIATION OF ALL CREATION TO GOD AT THE CLOSE OF THE AGES.

It seems to me that if you see this basic division, and refuse to mix them up, you stay away from the chaotic mess and arguments we see among Christianity and Messianic Judaism who seem to be…

”always learning but never coming to a knowledge of the truth”. (2 Timothy 3:7)