Let us not be deceived, the Gospel is first about personal salvation and secondly the goings about of Christians in caring for others.
False ministry spends itself in fixing the world; but never fixes it. True Christian ministry brings Christ to people and people to Christ.
The Potter, put us back together again. This is where “Christ” becomes “in you, the hope of glory.”
We are “little rock,” Jesus like. He is the Rock who came as Son of Man. He taught and teaches that He will in our day, as well as in the apostle’s day, builds His church through us.
“I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” Jesus was referencing that upon disciples— through them—He would continuously build “His” church. (Matthew 16:18)
The church is His continued presence on earth since He departed and until He returns with it to earth.
Jesus taught also that this church, the answer to the Lord’s Prayer: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” would be beset (attacked from all sides), but that too, was His business.
He builds the church and upon His return, will settle matters with those who say they are Christians and are not. “Tares,” Jesus called them, as opposed to wheat. False teachers will rise up in the name of Christendom: and we wonder how it is that modern-day Christianity is to many a foul name.
Church building is the work of Christ in us. We plant and water. We can expect— and faith does— that in us, God is working to reach the world.
Jesus does not teach that the gates of Hell will not launch every effort within its means to stop us. Why are we surprised rather than fully aware of the force of hate? But let us not magnify the power of Hell. Let us magnify the real power.
Paul said it, “This too shall work to the furtherance of the Gospel.” Oh, believer, the gates of Hell are allowed to unleash so that God can be glorified. So that men can see the difference of darkness and light and choose the light. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is first about rescuing men from the grasp of Hell. He settled that matter in the Garden of Gethsemane.
And with our difficulties that seem to take us down, we can be assured: the gates of Hell will not prevail, and the Father will not forsake us no matter the cross we must bear.
Yes, He is our Healer—but to every man it is appointed a day to die. (Hebrews 9:27). But we do not embrace death— we fight it— and God has established that His work will shine through (all) little rocks. The Rock of Ages will be with us.
Kingdom people— soldiers of the Light, must be so with courage. Faith-filled courageous action is faith.
Did the gates of Hell prevail against the true in Israel? Will the gates of Hell prevail against the true in Christendom? No!
This “church” stands on the Rock— hides sometimes in the cleft of the Rock— always prevails—is the co-effort of Christ’s men and women, and of Christ Himself.
We are “His ambassadors—witnesses that He is resurrected— His vessels— His children— Brethren to Him —adopted by Him— ransomed by Him— alive in Him— His body on earth— Friend to Him and He more so to us. He is our Boast— our Hope. We say to Him as Thomas spoke: “My Lord and my God” – as Peter spoke: You are the Messiah (Christ) the Son of the Living God.
The message of the true church is all about Savior; the salvation He brought us; the salvation He will bring to any who receive Him. The preaching of the cross will prevail on earth— only in the true church —until time has run its course. Hallelujah! What a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle. Washed in the blood of the Lamb.
Buddy