We see Jesus,
who was made a little lower than the angels
for the suffering of death,
crowned with glory and honour.
Hebrews 2:9
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This article contains the closing remarks from an article by Charles Stanley.
What is the Church? What is its Ministry? What is its Destiny?
Thus we have found the church of the scriptures to be the church of God, composed of every believer born of God since God began the church at Pentecost. And that all believers are now baptized into the one body of Christ. And that to use the word church, as meaning any worldly system, as that of Rome, or England, is not only unscriptural, but calculated to deceive souls.
We have found that true christian ministry is direct from Christ, the ascended head of the church; that these gifts of Christ were never ordained, even by the apostles, and never should be ordained by men. To do so is to set aside the high privilege and administration of Christ. We have found no authority in the word of God for such a person as a clergyman or minister, over either a parish or a church.
We have found that the constitution of the church was, first, the personal presence of the Holy Ghost. Secondly, He using whom He will of the gifts in the assembly. And though all Christendom has set aside the church constitution as found in scripture, yet we find no reason why we should give up the Word of God to follow the traditions of men.
We have found, the first man who did refuse the order of God in the fellowship and ministry of his brethren, in order to establish his own clerical preeminence, was strongly condemned by the inspired apostle John. We have found that the dreams of men, as to the Church being an improver of this present evil world, to be all false. That the destiny of the Church is entirely heavenly; and that it will soon be taken away from this dark night of sin and sorrow. The home above is prepared; the Man in the glory is waiting the moment when He shall rise and call us up to the skies. As Isaac waited for his Rebecca, so waits our precious Lord. Soon we shall meet, to part no more. Forever with the Lord. C. S.
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Yours in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Don Lewis