Introduction. Jesus commanded that the gospel be preached to every creature (Mk. 16:15-16) in every nation (Mt. 28:18-20). This is evangelism and is the most fundamental and primary role of every local church. Then, after they were made disciples, these new converts and babes in Christ needed to be taught to observe all things that Jesus commanded. This is edification and is also one of the fundamental roles of the local church. But in a local church, we only get a tiny glimpse of what is actually being done in the church over which Jesus is the head.
There is more to the church of Christ than what we see where we are members. When Jesus said that He would build His church, He was speaking of something far greater and glorious than we can understand. The church Jesus built was founded on the rock of Peter’s confession:” “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” He is the Word who was with God and was God. He is eternal, omnipotent, and dwells on an equality with God. What He built is complex and glorious.
The church Jesus built is the “greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not of this creation.” It is “the true tabernacle that the Lord erected and not man.” It is difficult for us to grasp the amazing power and glory of this church that Jesus built unless we see it from heaven’s side.
There is more to the church of Christ than what we see where we are members. When Jesus said that He would build His church, He was speaking of something far greater and glorious than we can understand. The church Jesus built was founded on the rock of Peter’s confession:” “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” He is the Word who was with God and was God. He is eternal, omnipotent, and dwells on an equality with God. What He built is complex and glorious.
The church Jesus built is the “greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not of this creation.” It is “the true tabernacle that the Lord erected and not man.” It is difficult for us to grasp the amazing power and glory of this church that Jesus built unless we see it from heaven’s side.