The Church Of Today, Offended By Christ?

The Church Of Today, Offended By Christ? Is the church of today offended by Christ? The very thought of this seems absurd, but is it? Not really. When one understands the spiritual truth contained in the bible, they see that the majority of churches today are offended by what they proclaim to uphold, the cross of Christ.

The bible is a very complicated book, especially for those who have not received the spirit of God straight through faith in Christ. When the bible speaks of offence, it is speaking of those who command that we must follow the commandments of God in the flesh by our own works of righteousness either to become, or remain thorough of God. Those who command that one must live a clear way in the flesh to please God live in great error. They are causing offence according to the scriptures. The natural eye, however, cannot see this concept. The bible tells us that one must be born of the spirit of God before they can see the truth contained in the scripture. The spirit of God is our eyes to see the truth, and our ears to hear what the bible is indubitably telling us spiritually. Unfortunately, the majority today does not have the spirit of God in their lives. This leads them to elucidate the scripture from what they know naturally. However, there is only one right way to elucidate scripture. The bible is a spiritual book and must be interpreted spiritually. However, one cannot understand spiritual matters without the advice of the Holy Spirit. The majority of churches today who vocalize that they know Christ are denying him with works. They command their congregations to follow clear rules to live by in the flesh. By doing so, they deny the faith. They are not seeking to enter the kingdom of Heaven straight through faith. They seek to enter by their own works of righteousness. However, the bible simply teaches us that we are saved by grace straight through faith, and not of works. So why do they command their congregations to vocalize good works in the flesh? This occurs because they elucidate the word of God naturally. They do not understand the spiritual truth contained in the scripture. Without the spirit, they cannot possibly see spiritual truth. This leads them to follow the commandments of God in the flesh by their own works of righteousness. The bible tells us those who are in the flesh cannot please God. We must worship God in spirit and in truth. We must understand the spiritual meaning of the commandments of God. However, many today do not have the spirit, and therefore cannot understand spiritual truth. The bible tells us many speak evil of the things they understand not, but what they know simply as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. By interpreting the scripture simply and following the literal commandment, the church of today is causing offence. They are prominent many away from the faith to trust in works for salvation. We either trust in faith or works. By teaching others to follow the word of God simply by their own works of righteousness in the flesh, the church of today is causing offence. When one trusts in Christ alone for salvation, and not works, it offends many who vocalize to be in the church of today. The church of today insists that salvation must be accompanied by works of righteousness in the flesh. They are offended by those who trust only in the cross of Christ for salvation. Many face great persecution because they refuse to bow to the commandments of men, rather than the commandments of God. Some are even excluded from the church organizations of today. Why does this occur? Paul tells us in the bible, if he continued to preach circumcision the offence of the cross would cease. The same holds true today. If one continues to try and live holy within themselves by fleshly works of righteousness, they most likely will be thorough into the church assosication of today. However, those who trust in Christ alone straight through faith are regularly rejected. The only way to be saved is to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. No fleshly works of righteousness are required to be, or remain, thorough of God. However, this may offend the church organizations of today. This occurs because man looks on the outward appearance. They look to see if one appears to be living holy in the flesh by their own works of righteousness. However, God looks on the heart. God is only involved either or not we receive the Holy Spirit into our heart straight through faith in Christ. Let us not be man-pleasers. Let us seek the honor that comes from God alone. Let us trust in Christ alone for salvation straight through faith. The Church Of Today, Offended By Christ? Related articles: Spring Valley Vitamins

Church Or Christ? It's a Matter of the Heart

Church Or Christ? It's a Matter of the Heart Jesus warns in Matthew 7:21 that not every one that says to Him, "Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of heaven." He clearly states there are those who prophesy, cast out devils and do many splendid works in His name, but they don't actually know Him. "I never knew you: depart from me..." He will say to them when "that day" comes.

It's so foremost that we, as the Body of Christ, understand that having a connection with the local church does not constitute having a connection with Christ. Doing work - serving in the nursery, ushering, attending commonly on Sunday, teaching a mid-week Bible study and volunteering in the community, though they are "wonderful works" - does not mean you know Him. Having a personal connection with the Lord is a matter of the heart. Do you love Him? Do you long for His presence? Do you have an intimate, personal connection with Him? This is the kind of bond that Christ desires - a deep, personal, voluntary, heart-to-heart connection with you. It's this kind of personal connection that Paul refers to in Philippians 3:8 when He says "I count all things as loss compared to the rights of the priceless privilege of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." He counts his many gain as deeply knowing Christ intimately. The Amplified version of the Bible illustrates it as "that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His someone more strongly and more clearly" (Phil 3:10). Jesus desires a personal connection with you. He wants to know your thoughts and your desires, your troubles and your joys. He wants you to know His! He wants to be your friend, your "Wonderful Counselor"! Jesus wants to truly know you and for you to truly know Him - the same way you would a spouse, a sibling or a best friend. Once you get to know Him, an intense love for Him will fill your heart! And that is the extreme goal...for you to love Him. His first and most foremost commandment is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." (Matt 22:37) With all things within you, He wants you to love Him! It's not at all about your attendance on Sunday or how often you serve your local church, it's about giving your heart to him, loving Him, and getting to know Him personally. Once you do, you will want to please Him and congregate with others who have those same desires (only then you will want to attend church and Bible studies and serve in the kingdom - not out of obligation, or fear of repercussion, or guilt, but solely because of your love for Him!). So, the demand remains, does your heart belong to Christ or are you merely deeply related to your local church? Like Paul, let's desire to know Him above all else. Let's work toward first and foremost becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and then out of that love for Him, let us serve His kingdom and build His Church. Church Or Christ? It's a Matter of the Heart

The Church As Body of Christ - A Spiritual Reality

Here is another truth, information or revelation of the Bible that does not readily appear real, true or feasible to the physical or natural men, it is that the Church, body of believers and followers of Christ and His life, teachings or ways, constitute His mystical or spiritual body, just as our various fleshy component parts constitute (make up) body (house) for our spirits and souls. The Bible, God's word or revelation of His will and truths, variously alludes to or speaks about it (see 1Cor.12:12-28; 10:17; Rom.12:4-8; Eph.1:22-23; 4:12; 4:16; 3:6; etc.).

The Church (Body of Christ's Believers) being Christ's body or body for Him may not be physically or humanly comprehended or appreciated, hence it is a spiritual reality. It is a thing that is only spiritually comprehended or appreciated and that by only the "spiritual men", those that are spiritually-minded (l Cor.2:14). The truth however, is that The Church is the Body of Christ. The Church as Christ's body is the physical means of His expressing His will, feelings, mind, power, etc. to and. in the world (Matt.28:19-20; In.20:21; Luke 10:16). And no single individual believer, group or congregation of believers of Christ can constitute or should assume to be the body of Christ alone or unilaterally. It is a multilateral, joint or collective thing or responsibility. This is why the Lord prayed for and encouraged His believers or disciples on oneness (see Jn.17:11, 21). It is in this status of oneness of the Church (which also is a spiritual thing) that she constitutes a body for the Lord. And it is in such a condition or circumstance that Re will fully express or manifest Himself, His life and power and wisdom to the world and the kingdom of darkness (Matt. 16:18; Eph.3:10-12).

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It is unfortunate that the Church has not come to believe, appreciate and see herself as The Body of Christ which she is, and act that way. Meanwhile, some individuals, groups or congregations may be seeing themselves and act as bodies of Christ unilaterally, without reference to or recognition of any or some others. The truth remains that only one part or some parts of a body cannot make a whole body. It takes all the components.

Like we have said, the Church being the body of Christ is a spiritual thing. And the fact of oneness we said that makes or constitutes it has nothing to do with merger of Churches into one. It has to do with understanding and appreciation of the issue and acting and relating that way. It is something that should be borne in the mind of every believer or congregation and allowed to influence them. There should be that conscious spiritual understanding and appreciation by individual believers and congregations that they are not alone or the only body of Christ but just parts or components that need others to make up the whole (I Cor.12:14-25).

We must not wait until we are in the same place or under the same name or believe the same things, have the same doctrines and outlooks before we can recognize the existence of some other places as part of the whole - Body Of Christ.

This point, or teaching as a whole does not suggest or approve any form of compromise with proven erroneous, false, substandard and apostate places, people, beliefs and practices which we must distance ourselves from (2 Cor.6:14-17; Eph.5:11-12). We are only teaching the truth or whole counsel of God we have received the command to teach (Matt.28:20; Acts 20:27). Suffice it to say that this lack of appreciation or recognition of the Church by believers and Churches as one indivisible Body of Christ and living and acting with/as same has given the world and the kingdom of darkness upper hand against her (the Church) and continues to limit her influence and victory in the world. The kingdom of darkness continues to unite into one body and wax strong in evil. Let those of us who hear the truth begin with and from themselves to make a difference.

The Church As Body of Christ - A Spiritual Reality

Vitus Ejiogu is a writer and publisher with the Fire-Brand Int"l Ministries, a media ministry that is based in Nigeria.

He is the editor of FOUNDATION SATELLITE magazine also published by the ministry. He pastors a Church in Bauchi and is married with two children.

You can reach him at: firebrandhq@yahoo.com or: 234 80 8181 829.

Website: http://www.palmgates.com or http://www.firebrandhq.com