Jesus questioned His disciples: "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" Jesus asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock (that Jesus is the Christ) I will build My church (His spiritual Body), and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it (His living Body). I will give you (His Body) the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you (His Body) bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you (His Body) loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Then He admonished the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ (Because it was not yet His time)." Matthew 16:13-20
"So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken." Isaiah 28:16 Jesus said, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine (the Gospel) and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Matthew 7:24 Hence, if we surrender all (our whole self) in this world to follow Jesus we truly build a new life on a foundation that is unshakeable! Jesus said, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'?" Luke 20:17 The meaning behind this is clear, the Jews (the builders) rejected Christ to instead follow their manmade doctrines and practices based on their own interpretation of the scriptures. The same applies today to all those who choose to follow the local church system and their manmade doctrines and practices that are based on human interpretation of the scriptures.
Furthermore, the scriptures tell us, "For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 3:11 We who are true followers of Christ know that this foundation is built on Christ alone and not on today's false teachings found in modern day so-called Christian churches. Christs true Body was, "Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone." Ephesians 2:20 The scriptures also warn His true shepherds to, "Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God (His Body), which He purchased with His own blood." Acts 20:28 Thus, be careful not to follow some church, denomination, pastor, teacher, etc., but instead ONLY follow Jesus according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Consequently, there are many who falsely believe that manmade church buildings, called places of worship, are holy because God dwells there. This is nothing more than a religious notion and this belief has carried with it many superstitions that have been passed down through time. Remember, at one time God's presence on this world did formerly reside in the holiest of holy in the inner temple behind a great veil. However, that all ended when Christ died on the cross and that dwelling place now resides within each born-again follower of Christ. "And behold, the veil of the temple was torn into two from top to bottom. And the earth was shaken, and the rocks were split." Matthew 27:51
Therefore, the true Church, the living Body of Jesus, is made up of all His true followers. Those of us who are truly born-again and follow Christ daily are the true holiest of holy place, we are the temple of God. "Do you not know that you yourselves are God's temple, and the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is holy, and you are that temple." 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Therefore, I urge you to not overvalue the places called churches made by human hands by calling them holy, but instead worship Him in Spirit and truth as the CHURCH, serving His kingdom as ONE with others who are servants of Christ each and every day. "For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building." 1 Corinthians 3:9
"So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken." Isaiah 28:16 Jesus said, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine (the Gospel) and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Matthew 7:24 Hence, if we surrender all (our whole self) in this world to follow Jesus we truly build a new life on a foundation that is unshakeable! Jesus said, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'?" Luke 20:17 The meaning behind this is clear, the Jews (the builders) rejected Christ to instead follow their manmade doctrines and practices based on their own interpretation of the scriptures. The same applies today to all those who choose to follow the local church system and their manmade doctrines and practices that are based on human interpretation of the scriptures.
Furthermore, the scriptures tell us, "For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 3:11 We who are true followers of Christ know that this foundation is built on Christ alone and not on today's false teachings found in modern day so-called Christian churches. Christs true Body was, "Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone." Ephesians 2:20 The scriptures also warn His true shepherds to, "Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God (His Body), which He purchased with His own blood." Acts 20:28 Thus, be careful not to follow some church, denomination, pastor, teacher, etc., but instead ONLY follow Jesus according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Consequently, there are many who falsely believe that manmade church buildings, called places of worship, are holy because God dwells there. This is nothing more than a religious notion and this belief has carried with it many superstitions that have been passed down through time. Remember, at one time God's presence on this world did formerly reside in the holiest of holy in the inner temple behind a great veil. However, that all ended when Christ died on the cross and that dwelling place now resides within each born-again follower of Christ. "And behold, the veil of the temple was torn into two from top to bottom. And the earth was shaken, and the rocks were split." Matthew 27:51
Therefore, the true Church, the living Body of Jesus, is made up of all His true followers. Those of us who are truly born-again and follow Christ daily are the true holiest of holy place, we are the temple of God. "Do you not know that you yourselves are God's temple, and the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is holy, and you are that temple." 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Therefore, I urge you to not overvalue the places called churches made by human hands by calling them holy, but instead worship Him in Spirit and truth as the CHURCH, serving His kingdom as ONE with others who are servants of Christ each and every day. "For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building." 1 Corinthians 3:9
