Four Walls and a Roof?

“Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.  But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head – Christ.”  (Ephesians 4:14-15 ESV)

Those who do not know Jesus Christ for the pardoning of their sins do not know the difference between “a church” and “the church”.  Allow me to explain. 

First and foremost, if you profess to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, you must believe that He is who the Bible says He is: He is the second person of the Trinity who was with God in the beginning (Genesis 1:26; John 1:1). He is the Word of God made flesh (John 1:14).  He is God (John 5:17-18). He died for the sins of all mankind, satisfying man’s sin debt (Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2). He rose from the dead after being in the grave for three days (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) and now sits at the right hand of God, interceding on behalf of believers (1 Peter 3:22; Romans 8:34-37). Those who confess that Jesus is Lord – placing their life in His hands - and believe that God raised Him from the dead, are saved from the day of God’s judgement. (Romans 10:9). 

If this describes your faith-walk, give God the glory!  This means that God Himself has revealed His Son to you (Matthew 16:17).  It means that you did not choose Him, but that He chose you (John 15:16), and that He chose you in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).  Because of your faith (which is a gift from God), your salvation is secure, and you have the Spirit of the living God residing in you (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19) to not only teach you the truth of God’s Word, but to also serve as the guarantee of your salvation (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Sadly however, there are those in church who do not actually belong to the church – God’s church to be more specific.  There are “believers” who place their leadership’s views and opinions over the authoritative Word of God.  Those who focus on church attendance and denominations rather than salvation.  Some who are obsessed with following religious rules and regulations rather than extending grace and mercy to those who need it most.  Those who put something into the collection plate just to satisfy the “ten percent requirement”.  Those who half-heartedly believe they’re going to heaven because they believe their “good” will outweigh their “bad” because God will grade them on a curve if they commit misdemeanors and not felonies.   

If this describes you, I have got bad news:  you may be attending a church, but the true church is not in you. 

The Church is the body of Christ, which is made up of born-again believers (1 Corinthians 12:13-27). The Church consists of those whose identity is in Christ Jesus (Galatians 2:20).  God’s Church – His chosen people – see God’s Word as the final authority in all matters of faith and everyday living (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  God’s Church understands that it has to put on the armor of God everyday in order to withstand and defeat the enemy of our souls (Ephesians 6:10-20).  God’s Church knows that living a Godly life is not based on following an exhaustive list of rules and regulations because there is a new-found freedom in Christ (Galatians 5:1). His Church knows that no matter how many seats may be empty in the building, God is in the midst where two or three are gathered in His name (Matthew 18:20).  The body of Christ gives freely out of a cheerful heart to others in need, as well as for the ministry of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 9:7; 1 Corinthians 9:14).  Christ’s Church knows that there is no salvation outside of receiving Him as your personal Lord and Savior, and no amount of good works can save you (Ephesians 2:8-9).   

To put it plainly, if the Lord Jesus Christ is not being preached; if the message being delivered in that building is not emphasizing Scripture alone, by grace alone, by faith alone, by Christ alone, to the glory of God alone; then you are not in God’s Church.  You’re in a building with four walls and a roof, and just being there is not how you are made right with God. You must admit that you are a sinner.  You must ask God for forgiveness.  You must invite the Lord Jesus into your heart.  You must surrender to His Lordship.  You must repent of your sins.  You must be born again.  As the Holy Spirit teaches you the Word, you may find that it's time to leave the church you're attending because God is not being glorified the way He deserves. If that happens, leave immediately and find a new church home where it's 100% Jesus, 100% of the time. When you do, the word “church” will take on a whole new meaning.

Go in peace, but go!