The Church Part 2
How do you join or place membership in the church that Jesus the Messias is building? It is not possible to join the church of the Messias Jesus and no man or woman has any voice in its membership.
Acts 2:41-47
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
The Lord Jesus adds those to his church that should be saved. Those that receive his words and are baptized for the remission of sins he adds to his church. You cannot join or place membership in the church of the Messias Jesus. It is not a religious organization or sect governed by men or women.
Luke 16:14-16
14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
15 And he said unto them, You are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it.
Messias Jesus was speaking to the Pharisee’s one of the religious sects of his day. He was letting them know that beginning from the time of John the Baptist a spiritual temple or tabernacle of God began to be built. No longer is the temple or tabernacle of God constructed by the hands of men or women. As it was during the dispensation of the law of Moses and the temple of God that was built here upon this earth. Which was made of things that were of an earthly nature being an earthly temple not a spiritual one.
Matthew 16:13-18
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some say that you are John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He said unto them, But whom say you that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
God has sent his son Jesus the Messias to build a temple or church upon himself. It is a spiritual building made of the spirits of men and women that are obedient to his words. It is the eyes and ears of their spirits that have been attracted to his church. It is the spiritual nature of what Jesus has to offer that appeals to his followers. They worship God in spirit and in truth because God is a spirit and seeks such to worship Him.
John 15:1-6
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that bears not fruit he takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, he prunes it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me.
5 I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.
6 If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Jesus the Messias reveals that the members of his church are part of him. They are as branches in him bringing forth fruit unto God he is the true vine. They have been drawn to him and cleansed by obeying the living word of God known as the gospel. No one can bear fruit to God without being a member of the Messias church. Those that are not are as withered branches suitable only to be cast into the fire and burned.
Ephesians 1:20-23
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And has put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all.
There is no other church recognized by God or authorized by God. Only Jesus the Messias is head of his church no man or woman on this earth has ever been given this power by God. His church is not only known as the ‘church’ it is also known as the ‘kingdom’ and as his ‘body’. The church, the kingdom and the body are all used to describe those that have been called out by the gospel of the Messias Jesus to assemble or congregate in his name.
John 3:1-6
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
You cannot see his church with the eyes of your flesh. It is not made of steeples, crosses and stained glass windows. His church does not attract you with rock n’ roll or country western style music, concerts and quires or any type of entertainment. His church does not lure you with dinners and it does not engage in selling merchandise of any kind. The nature of his church is spiritual and not earthly. When a man or woman is baptized in water for the forgiveness of sins. They are also baptized with the Holy Spirit being born again of the water and of the Spirit. They have entered into and can now see the kingdom of God.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
You can join or place membership in the churches that Satan and his ministers build. Satan and his ministers cannot build a spiritual building but construct edifices or buildings for public worship that are carnal or of an earthly nature. Satan and his ministers must use lies and deceit to cause their churches to appear as spiritual. His ministers write many books and pamphlets to teach their false doctrines. It is the eyes and ears of his follower’s flesh that have been attracted to his churches. It is the carnal or earthly nature of what his churches offer that makes them appealing. You can see Satan and his minister’s churches with the eyes of your flesh. They are made of steeples, crosses and stained glass windows. His churches do attract you with rock n’ roll or country western style music, concerts and quires or entertainment of all varieties. His churches do lure you with dinners and they do engage in selling merchandise of every kind.
2 Peter 2:1-3
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not.
Matthew 7:21-24
21 Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.
24 Therefore who so ever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.
The Messias Jesus warns that there will be many that believe they are his followers and are not. Only those who hear and do his sayings have been added to his church and are built upon his foundation. Keeping the sayings of religionists and sectarians is not acceptable to God. They may speak the name of the Lord Jesus but he does not know them. In part three of The Church more of what Jesus the Messias revealed will be provided. Please take the time to read it and examine his words.