I will build My Church

Text for the year 2022

These are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ recorded in Matthew 16:18. They set before us an encouragement, but also a challenge. Both these aspects are to be taken seriously.
In the immediate past, following secular society, Christians have become increasingly individualistic in outlook. The Church has featured less and less in modern thinking. Not only do the unconverted say, “I do not need to go to church to be a Christian”, but believers think in terms of personal relationship with God and the individual’s interpretation of Scripture to the exclusion of the role of the Church. Of course, it is important for you as an individual to know God, and personal devotions are invaluable. Nevertheless, the divine plan of salvation is to redeem a people. He died to save the Church. Christ’s project is the Church. He is nurturing a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people. (1 Peter 2:9)
In these days that are so challenging for the gospel and the kingdom, we need to be reminded that the Church is not only the beloved bride of Christ, but He has made a promise concerning the Church. She will not fail. He is building the Church and will go on doing so until the gospel has been preached to all nations (Matthew 24:14) and all the elect are brought into the kingdom (Matthew 24:31). Then He shall return in glory. There may be trials and attacks on the Church, but nothing can will prevent the progress that has been promised by our Lord. Not even the powers of hell can prevent the fulfilment of these things. Do not despair or be discouraged. Christ has promised.
Church.
Believe in His Church; belong to His Church; be blessed in His Church.