The Church in the 21st Century

Matthew 5:3 The Biblical church is the same in every age.

It has:

• Mission
• Members
• Leadership and administration
• Needs in the community

The word church is used twice in Matthew and refers to a gathering of people. The word for “place of worship” is synagogue.

It's God's church and He only requires a heart dedicated to His holy way to be a part.

Matthew 27:11 The gathering is the Kingdom of God on earth.

Self satisfaction is walking in the flesh. The spiritual and fleshly axis cross and can sometimes create conflict. The flesh will always dominate the spirit unless I ask God to dominate my flesh.

John 3:3 One cannot even see the Kingdom of God without being born again.

Matthew 16:18,19 In the four gospels, the Kingdom (church) is always connected to Christ.

When Paul writes to the church locations, this is the same church that the apostles and Jesus spoke of.

Tradition or membership does not use Christ’s language about His church. Does the Christ language apply to me (kindness, long-suffering, judgement and justice of God, holiness from sin)?

Matthew 25:31,32,33 No one wants to talk about hell. God's law is eternal; everyone can choose where they will go. All are subject to the judgement.

1 John 2:18 There's a spirit of anti-Christ. It's not a single person.

Every writer in the Bible swam in their own unique cultural river. I have to take the Scripture with an understanding of the time it was written. The people were ruled by an emperor and by Mosaic law, including commerce and religion.

I may not understand everything. I must read the Bible with humility. We must live a holy life in a complicated world. The Holy Spirit will interpret for me.