“…I will build my church…” (Matthew 16:18).

What a thrill to see how the church of Jesus Christ has grown from that band of twelve disciples at the time Jesus made this statement to become the largest religion in the world at more than two billion believers. It is true that we are now seeing membership declines in parts of the world, including the United States; however, this growth is still impressive.

The church in one sense is the local congregation of believers who regularly gather to worship and to be discipled. However, in the larger sense, the church is all the body of believers who have ever lived. In fact, as it says in Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” That great cloud of witnesses is the church—the body of all believers who have ever lived, and they are still useful to the work of the kingdom.

Jesus is the foundation and the corner stone of this virtual church structure, and we as believers are the living stones of the church. As Peter, the one to whom Jesus spoke the words that Matthew quotes above, tells us in 1 Peter 2:4-6 – “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’”

Why is Christ building his church? What does He even need a church for? Have you ever considered this? From the book of Genesis, we know that God called Abraham to go from his hometown of Ur to travel to the Promised Land, and He promised that from Abraham would come a great nation and a great land. The Bible tells us the fulfillment of this promise through Jesus, his Son. And through Jesus, the promise is extended to all who believe. Our Creator God created man to glorify Himself. “Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory” (Isa. 43:6–7).

Most of Jesus’ promises are what he will do for us. However, this is a promise to build his church is one that He will fulfil through us as we submit to His will. I cannot imagine a better purpose in life than to follow the calling to serve the body of Christ as a faithful member of His church. What a joy to be faithful in all the “one another” commandments that evidence our love for each other as Christ loved the church. What a life goal to be rewarded as a good and faithful servant as in Matthew 25:23 – “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”

And what indescribable joy when we celebrate with Christ in our new Eternal Home. We know that Jesus considers the church his Bride. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:25-27). Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, “…for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready…” (Revelations 19:7).

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18).

In Christ,

Judy