the church

[rainbowinthesky]

"The church is God's fortress, His city of refuge, which He holds in a revolted world." A.A.11.

"The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes God's fortress which He holds in a revolted world and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own." D.A.324.

"From the beginning, faithful souls have constituted the church on earth." A.A.11.

"The church of Christ, every individual disciple of the Master is heaven's appointed channel for the revelation of God to man." M.B.40.

So what is the church?

Of course there is the professed church, the official establishment with a name and organization but only those within her ranks who are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise through faith that lays right hold upon the all-sufficient merits of a crucified and risen Saviour are God's fortress which He holds in a revolted world. These alone constitute the church on earth.

sky

 

[rainbowinthesky]

Here's another quote from EGW to add to what sky has posted since most here are SDA's.

"The SOUL that is brought into personal contact with Christ becomes a HOLY TEMPLE unto the Lord; for Jesus is made unto the believer wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. He who has fully surrendered to God has a consciousness of Christ's saving presence. He is a possessor of spiritual patience, and has the rest of soul that comes from learning of Him who is meek and lowly of heart. Trusting in Jesus to be his efficiency and righteousness, his soul is filled with a PLEASANT CONTENTMENT.{YRP 83.3}

What is the joy of the Christian? It is the result of the consciousness of the presence of Christ. What is the love of the Christian? It is the reflection of the love of Christ. It is the effect of the operation of the Holy Spirit. Looking to the cross of Calvary, we see Jesus dying for the sins of the world, in order that by His death, life and immortality might be brought to light in behalf of the contrite soul. Jesus is all in all, and without Him we can do nothing. Without Christ, spiritual life would be impossible.--Review and Herald, Dec. 4, 1894.{YRP 83.4}

The times are very serious indeed and all should be aware of it. There is not much preparation time now. What us old timers took years to learn many will need to learn in a few short months.

Gibs (from another forum)

 

[rainbowinthesky]

Great quotes Gibs. Let me add a few that I am sure you will agree shed precious light on this topic:

"The gold tried in the fire is FAITH that WORKS by LOVE. Only this can bring us into harmony with God. We may be active, we may do much work; but WITHOUT LOVE, SUCH LOVE AS DWELT IN THE HEART OF CHRIST, we can never be numbered with the family of Heaven." C.O.L.158.

Is this not the straight testimony to Laodicea, from the faithful Witness?

What was the measure of that love that dwelt in the heart of Christ:

"When God gave His Son to our world, he endowed human beings with imperishable riches--riches compared with which the treasured wealth of man since the world began is nothingness. Christ came to the earth and stood before the children of men with the HOARDED LOVE OF ETERNITY, and this is the TREASURE that, through our connection with Him, we are to receive, reveal, and to impart." Ministry of Healing,37.

The hoarded love of eternity! Who can fathom the hoarded love of eternity? yet this is the TREASURE (whole heavenly treasure) that, through our connection with Christ, we are to receive, to reveal, and to impart!

And how do we connect with Christ?

"God will accept everyone that comes to Him TRUSTING WHOLLY in the MERITS of a crucified Saviour. LOVE springs up in the heart. There may be no ecstasy of feeling, but there is an abiding, peaceful trust." 1 S.M.354.

"We shall come in repentance and contrition, with a despairing sense of our own finite weakness and learn that we must DAILY APPLY to the MERITS of the blood of Christ that they may become VESSELS FIT for the Master's use." Faith & Works,86.

Thank God for His unspeakable Gift through the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour.

sky