Christ’s Church

The church is Christ’s. He bought her with His blood. He married her with His everlasting covenant and He is coming back to take her and present her in all His glory. Because He owns the church, hell cannot highjack it and man cannot mitigate its mission. His church has survived and thrived for almost 2,000 years, and will until He comes back for His bride. But aren’t some churches ineffective? Yes, there are some in name only—but the true church of Christ is being built by its founder: the Lord Jesus Christ.“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 5:25b-27).Jesus builds the church by growing His followers into dedicated and mature disciples, who are full of the fruit of the Spirit. His eternal plan is for His disciples to fall deeper in love with Him and with each other. Nothing or no one can stop Christ’s construction of His church. Sin can’t, because He has the power to forgive. Satan can’t, because He conquered him at the cross. Death can’t, because He overcame death’s sting. Persecution can’t, because the church thrives when under pressure. He is building His church—now.

“And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way” (Ephesians 1:22-23).

Furthermore, Christ builds His church upon the confession of His children: “He is Christ, Son of the living God”. When we confess Christ with our words—backed by our life—we partner with the Holy Spirit in erecting the Lord’s eternal edifice: His church. His dwelling in not captured by church buildings. His dwelling is in the hearts of men, women, boys and girls, who empowered by His grace give others the opportunity to hear the old, old story of Jesus’ love for them. He is building His church for His glory!

“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:10-11).

Am I engaged with Christ in building His church, by confessing Him as God’s son?

Related Readings: Acts 16:5; Romans 8:9-11; Colossians 1:18; Revelation 2:1-29

Boyd Bailey is the author of Wisdom Hunters daily devotional and two devotional books, Infusion and Seeking Daily the Heart of God