CHURCH: IT'S NOT WHAT IT SEEMS

In a few days time volunteers will hit the streets of Angel, Islington to begin distributing copies of "Church: It's Not What It Seems" and inviting people to join us for our first worship service on 2 September 2007. Readers of this blog may be interested to read the tract here.

Most people will have heard of the church, but few have any idea of what the church really is. Throughout the centuries the church has experienced much opposition and open persecution, yet it has remained as a witness to the world. Many people have misconceptions about the church, based on preconceived ideas, but few have any real idea of its unique position in the world, let alone its origin.

What the church is not

When people hear the word “church” many automatically think of a large, old-looking building with a steeple on top. They picture stained-glass windows and pomp and ceremony, but this is not the true church. The reality goes much deeper than this! The fact is, the church is not a building of bricks and mortar at all. The true church is a people - a very privileged people indeed!

What the church is

The true church is a people who believe the Bible to be the word of God.

The Bible explains the origin and purpose of life. The Bible explains the truth of why the world is in the terrible state we see all around us. The Bible gives us the truth about mankind’s true condition and tells us how this affects our eternal destiny. Many people have their own ideas or are influenced by that which is currently taught by others. They just blindly follow the crowd. Only the Bible gives us the facts concerning man’s origin, purpose and destiny. It is vital that we let go of preconceived ideas and seek the truth where alone it can be found. Are you a seeker of truth? Then read the Bible. Seek the Lord while he may be found.

The true church is a people who see life as it really is

The Bible tells us that the human race, from the earliest days of its history, fell into disobedience and open rebellion against God, its creator. The tragic consequence of the fall affects each one of us born into the world to this day! It affects you, reader!

Have you ever asked yourself why the world is in such a mess? Look around you. What do you see? Wars, famine, greed, selfishness, crime, violence, hatred, ect. This is the human race as it really is! What a pathetic history fallen humanity has! The solemn fact is that everyone is born a member of this sinful race. In God’s sight we are all guilty! Reader, this is the first thing you must grasp. We have all gone our own way. This is sin, and God hates sin. The Bible tells us that God is holy and will one day judge this world. Each one will give an account before God. This is the second thing you must grasp: the reality of coming judgement. What can we say? We are guilty! God knows the history of each on of us. Sin is the cause of all the trouble in the world. It is in all of us.

The true church is a people saved by Jesus Christ

The Bible tells us that God sent the Lord Jesus Christ into the world. He came on a mission, and that mission was to save. The Bible tells us “He shall save his people from their sins”. He was completely without sin and walked perfectly before God.

He died on the cross for sins that were not his own. He came to die! He laid down his life as part of a mission. He offered himself as a spotless sacrifice. He died as a substitute.

Jesus said “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed”. The Bible tells us that he “loved the church and gave himself for it”. God raised Jesus from the dead as proof that he accepted the sacrifice Jesus made. God has declared Jesus to be the only saviour of sinners. And the Bible declares the church to be Christ’s purchased possession.

The true church is a people united to Christ

It is a people who have been made to feel their sinful condition before a holy God. They have come to a place of complete dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ. They are a forgiven people - a people saved from the penalty of sin. They are eternally united to Jesus Christ who is the head of the church - a privileged people indeed!

Reader, be warned!

Those without Christ will be eternally lost! The human race has no reason to feel proud. We should all feel ashamed of ourselves. Reader, do you feel your sins? Do you realize you cannot save yourself? To such, Jesus spoke these words: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”.

Reader, those who come to Jesus in repentance and faith shall be safe for time and eternity.


"Church: It's Not What It Seems" is used with the permission of Evangelical Tract Society.