The Glorious Church

Ephesians 5:25-27

From before the creation of the world, God has had a plan and a purpose for His Church. All history and prophecy - from Genesis through to Revelation - has been building up to a great climax - the fulfilment of His glorious plan. The Church was in the mind of God...

At creation (Eph.1:4; Titus 1:2; Rev.13:8)

In the calling of Abraham (Gal.3:16,29)

In Israel (1 Cor.10:11; Col.2:16-17)

In the sending of His Son (Eph.5:25-27; Matt. 13:44; 2 Timothy 1:9-10)

What is the Church?

Ephesians 1:22-23

The Greek word Paul uses for the Church is Ecclesia, which simply means "the called out ones". Who is part of this Ecclesia? Simply all those who have responded to God's call of salvation - those who have entered into a relationship with the Father through the blood of Jesus Christ. Our membership in the Church does not depend on our registering on a church roll, but upon our personal response to the call of God.

Ephesians 2:12-22

On the Cross, Christ "made the two one". The two groups of people were Jew and Gentile, who before Christ had a "barrier" between them - a "dividing wall of hostility".

Now there is no differentiation between Jew or Gentile, male or female (Gal.3:28; Col.3:11).

The Church is the company of all those who have responded to God's call, whether Jew or Gentile. This means that the Old Testament saints (who also responded to God's call in their day) are now just as much part of the Church that Christ redeemed for Himself (John 8:56; Heb.11:8-10,39-40; 12:22-23).

Overview of History

As we look at the Church from the Day of Pentecost to today, we see four very clear eras:

A Glorious Birth (Acts 4:31-35)

A Period of Decline ("apostasia") (2 Thess.2:3)

A Period of Restoration (Acts 3:21)

A Glorious Finale (Rom.8:20-23).

Restoration of Truth

From the moment of the Church's birth, Satan began an attack to lure her back into the world. Most of the New Testament epistles were written to correct churches that had retreated into pre-Cross mentality (2 Cor.11:2-4; Gal.1:6-9), which culminated in the apostasy of the Dark Ages. But God began to restore the essential truths of the Gospel (Heb.6:1-3), in the order they were lost:

AD 1517 Justification by faith..... Martin Luther.

AD 1524 Water Baptism..... Mennonites.

AD 1738 Sanctification.....John Wesley.

AD 1860 Missionary Vision.....CT Studd & others.

AD 1902 Baptism in the Holy Spirit.....Azuza Street.

AD 1948 The laying on of hands.

AD 1960- The Charismatic Renewal.

AD 1980- Purging and purification of the Church.

AD 1990- New wineskins for new wine (Matt.9:17).

AD ? Resurrection and Eternal Judgement.

God never finishes on a lesser note than on what He began (Hag.2:9). He always leaves the best wine till last (John 2:9-10). Jesus is not coming back for a weak, divided Church. His intention is for a Church "without spot or wrinkle". The world will get darker, but the Church will reveal more of the glory of God (Num.14:21; Prov.4:18).

Ephesians 3:10; 4:11-13; John 17