WHY CAN’T THEY SEE THE TRUE CHURCH?

Victor M. Eskew

 

          “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18).  These familiar words sprang from the mouth of Jesus as He spoke to His disciples in Cesarea Philippi (Matt. 16:13).  Peter made the great confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matt. 16:16).  Upon that bedrock of truth, Jesus said He would build His church.

          There are many important things to note in Jesus’ words.  First, Jesus, not man, is the builder of the church.  Second, Jesus promised to build only one church, not many.  Notice the word “church” is singular not plural.  Third, Jesus speaks of the church as “my church.”  It belongs to Him.  He would purchase it with His own blood (Acts 20:28).  Fourth, the church is not a stop-gap measure in God’s plan.  It was something that had been planned before the foundation of the world (Eph. 3:10-11).  Jesus promised to bring it to fruition.  Fifth, Jesus knew the church would be coming in the near future.  It was not a reality when He spoke these words, but it would be in the coming days.

          Acts 2 reveals when the Lord’s church was established.  The Holy Spirit was poured out on the apostles (Acts 2:1-4).  They began to proclaim the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Too, they plainly told lost sinners what they needed to do to be saved (Acts 2:38).  Many responded to their words that day.  “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:  and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).  According to Jesus, those who believed and were baptized were saved individuals (Mark 16:16).  Those saved were added to the church that same day.  “Praising God, and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47).  This is the first time the church is spoken of as a present reality.  From this point on, the church will become the subject of the writings of the New Testament of Jesus Christ.

          Did you really hear what was said in that last sentence?  The New Testament writers focus their attention on the precious church of Christ from Acts 2 until Revelation 22.  If we want to see the church, learn about the church, and become the church of the first century, the way to do it is to pay close attention to Acts, the Epistles, and the Revelation.  The church is displayed prominently therein.  We see it evangelizing the world.  We see it worshiping the Almighty God.  We see it edifying the saved.  We see it being benevolent to all men, especially to those of the household of faith.  We see it seeking to remain pure.  We see it disciplining those members who go astray.  We see it preparing for the return of the Lord Jesus on the last day.  The words that record these sacred truths are not the words of men.  Yes, men penned the words, but the words were breathed by God Himself.  They were given to inspired men by the Spirit of God.  Peter put it this way:  “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation.  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:  but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Pet. 1:20-21).

          All of the things that have been written so far in this article seem to be so simple to understand.  Yet, the religious world is clueless about the true church, the Lord’s church, the church of the first century.  In this article, we are asking:  “Why?”  There are many reasons this could be the case.  First, most individuals, even those who say they are religious, have never studied the Bible.  They read the Bible from time to time.  They listen to others tell them what the Bible says.  But, they have not taken the time to truly study the Bible detail.  If they studied with an open heart, they could see the church in all its fulness.  They would appreciate both the divine side of the church and the human side of the church.  They would long to be part of a church that seeks to be just like the church found in the New Testament.

          A second reason individuals do not see the true church is because they have been deceived by the evil one.  As Jesus said in the Parable of the Tares, the devil has sown tares among the wheat.  A tare was similar to wheat.  In fact, it could be mistaken for wheat by some.  In like manner, Satan has created churches that are somewhat similar to the church of the Bible.  These churches, however, are man-made institutions.  They did not originate in the first century.  Too, they do not pattern their doctrines, their worship, and their works after the church we read about in the Bible.  Satan has told us that the differences are minor.  He has caused some to believe that the differences do not matter.  He has affirmed that feelings and sincerity are more important than strict compliance with the will of God.

          A third reason some cannot see the true church found in the Bible is because they are more concerned with satisfying the flesh than they are about pleasing God.  Some can see the church but they do not want it.  It is not flashy.  It is not fun.  It is not entertaining enough.  It does not have enough programs to satisfy their tastes.  They want more pomp and ceremony.  They want to fit in with the masses.  They want popularity.  They want something that is casual, comfortable, and does not hold them accountable.  They do not see the Lord’s church doing this, so they reject it.  These individuals are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God (2 Tim. 3:4). 

          One of the lessons that we did not point out earlier from Matthew 16:18 is that the Lord’s church is an enduring church.  The gates of hell cannot prevail against it.  What existed 2,000 years ago is still in existence today.  Few look for it.  Many who find it do not want it.  Those who do appreciate it and become members of it will be glad in the last day.  It will be the group that the Lord Jesus Christ comes for at the end of time.  “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:26-27).