Revealing the Hidden Hope: Entering in at the Strait Gate, Through The Doorway to an Already Decided Destiny

PART THREE Chapter Eleven A Literal Portrait of the Church THE PROLOGUE THE prologue is a preview before the presentation. In this prologue of the Church of God which was established in Christ, four questions are raised: “What is the Church?” “What, in this world, is the church supposed to be?” (3) “What did Jesus mean by what He said in Matthew 16:18? And (4) Have we gone wrong in the operation of the Church; and if so, how do we right the wrongs?” It goes without saying that the answers to all four of these questions are subjective for they depend largely on who you ask, and whether or not you are ready to accept the answers you receive. One thing is for certain however: when it comes to the truth about the Church, unless and until the reader is ready to reason with God (Isaiah 1:18) concerning His Church, there will not be an answer to either of these questions that will be both, acceptable and workable. In 2 Timothy 3:16 the voice of God speaking through the apostle, Paul, has said: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16). Another translation reads: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.” Having made the decisive-decision to accept what the Bible says, verbatim and without exception, and having received insight and inspiration to write from my experiences and exposure, what follows is my take on truth, backed by Scripture. At the outset let’s be clear on at least two points. First of all, according to Scripture God only has one Church: it is “The-Church-of-God” that was established-in-Christ—not to be confused with the local denomination by the same name. God’s Church was established on the rock of faith, upon which Jesus stated He would build in Matthew Chapter sixteen, Verse eighteen (16:18). Secondly, when Jesus said ‘upon this rock’ I will build My Church (Matthew 16:18), seemingly, He left the organization of the Church up to the people of God who would subscribe to the same faith to which Peter made reference; and He would do it without any direct intervention from Him. I suppose it would be safe to say that He—being the embodiment of God—believed that having instilled in each of his creation the Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, the task of in-gathering for the purpose of organizing His Church would be completed according to His heart. That being said and in an effort to present truth that is void of tradition, I will comment on and criticize, compare and contrast, the apparent successes and failures of the organized Church to meet the criteria contained in the delineation of faith.