You Must Understand!

Next Part Church Also to Be a Model!

Let’s better understand Christ as the Rock the Church is built upon. Since Christians are to build on this Rock to enter the kingdom of God (Matt. 7:24-26), we must understand more fully what this means. It will make even clearer that the Church of God was not built on Peter, as the first pope, thus empowering him and his successors to change doctrines—including the Sabbath—at will.

Notice what Peter later said about Christ: “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a CHIEF CORNERSTONE, elect, precious: and he that believes on Him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the Head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed” (1 Pet. 2:6-8).

Peter was quoting the prophet Isaiah: “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious CORNERSTONE, a sure foundation: he that believes shall not make haste” (Isa. 28:16).

These verses unmistakably demonstrate that Jesus Christ is the Rock—the living God—of both the Old and New Testaments!

Note that Peter, when using the word stone, cited a different Greek word, lithos, meaning “a stone, millstone, or stumbling stone.” This would be more like a medium-sized stone—neither a massive rock nor a small pebble—such as the stones used to build the temple or as a stone sealing a tomb. This is how lithos is used in other places. In other words, people trip—stumble—over a rock the size of a “lithos.” They never even got to the point where they were willing to build on the massive Rock—Christ’s WORDS (Matt. 7:24)!

We have seen Christ’s words include that He is “Lord of the Sabbath”!

Now notice: “And [the saints] are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the CHIEF CORNERSTONE” (Eph. 2:20). In reality, Christ is the Head (Chief) Stone of the Church and its true foundation: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11). In 1 Peter 2:5, Peter also calls all Christians “lively stones” (lithos) who are part of Christ’s “spiritual house”—“temple” (1 Cor. 3:16-17).

Promise of the Holy Spirit

Christ promised to send His Spirit to build His Church after He was resurrected and returned to heaven: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send [It] unto you” (John 16:7).

Receiving the Holy Spirit at repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38) places one into the Church of God. Notice: “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:13).

The Greek word for Church is ekklesia, meaning “the congregation of called out people.” It is not a reference to a physical building, but rather to the begotten sons and daughters of God—God’s temple—who will one day be born into the kingdom of God (Rom. 8:29-30; 1 Cor. 15:50-54; 1 Thess. 4:13-18). These are those who have been led of God’s Spirit and been made partaker of God’s “divine nature” (2 Pet. 1:4).

Today, and for over 1,900 years, Christ has been the LIVING HEAD of His Church, guiding it, and holding Supreme authority over all matters within it.

A Christian is one who yields to God’s authority. Christ said that He is LORD (Master, Ruler) of the Sabbath. While it may make no difference to men which day they keep—because God does not seem real to them—He is very much in the picture, and will judge all human beings. Someday, many will regret their carelessness with Christ’s definition of sin, and which day He made holy!

People’s opinions do not count. What counts is the opinion of the living, Almighty God who made the entirety of heaven and Earth. He gave a law that would bring all the good things in life—happiness, abundance, peace, and security—enroute to His greatest gift, ETERNAL LIFE! The living Jesus Christ is the only Rock upon which all who wish to be in His one Church must build. He alone has the authority to tell us which day is His Sabbath.

Israel Intended to Be Model Nation

Israel’s Sabbath-keeping was intended to be an example seen by other nations. It was always God’s purpose that Israel be a light to the nations around her. Yet, she failed utterly in carrying out this responsibility, instead choosing to COPY surrounding nations, including many of their abominable pagan customs.

Some wonder why God began this phase of His plan with the particular nation, Israel. The single biggest reason God started with Israel, instead of any other nation, is merely because He had to start with just one nation. He selected a poor, down-trodden slave people (yet having exceptional potential) to show that, when He worked with a nation, they could come to greatness and enjoy many wonderful blessings. Also, no Gentile nations had ever served God. But Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, from which the Twelve Tribes sprang, had once known God. So God started with this small nation of slaves.

God intended that other nations would see Israel’s blessings—her prosperity—and want the same for themselves. He wanted all nations to see Israel’s wisdom—and that she served a different God than any known to them. The nations of the world had completely lost track of the identity of the true God. From the Garden of Eden—and Adam and Eve’s rejection of God’s offer of eternal life—had sprung every conceivable false god and goddess.

The world’s nations have literally “reaped what they have sowed”—and what Adam and Eve sowed on behalf of all mankind. Only a very few had been faithful to God by the time He called Israel—Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Job, and possibly a few others. The entire world had rebelled, and suffered the consequences of confusion, war, famine, disease, poverty, misery, religious deception, and more.

But God understood that the nations around Israel would inquire of her as to why she had such wisdom and enjoyed so many material blessings (Deut. 4:6-8). That was His purpose.

So in a world cut off from God, He called the little slave-people nation, descended from Abraham. Their down-trodden condition made it possible for them to listen to God. They could then be a light to other nations who would inquire about their laws, statutes, and other customs, taught them by God.

In Isaiah 43:21, God said, “This people have I formed FOR MYSELF; they shall show forth My praise.”

Being His example was God’s plainly intended purpose for this nation. God performed one mighty miracle after another for Israel. The world was able to see these awesome events—such as the plagues used to deliver them from Egypt. Yet Israel still rebelled. Why? Her citizens had human nature. The world has also rebelled, because it also has human nature.

Next Part Church Also to Be a Model!

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