The reason we can call this the Glorious Church is shown in the following scriptures, and it cannot be over-emphasized: –
Ephesians 4:11 -16
11 And he gave some as Apostles, and some, prophets; and some, preachers of the good news; and some to give care and teaching;
[Authors note – pastor and teacher are from two different Greek words —
‘pastor’ is Strong’s 4166 poimhn poimen poy-mane’
and ‘teacher’ is Strong’s 1320 didaskaloj didaskalos did-as’-kal-os
and therefore are two different ministries and offices.]
12 For the training of the saints as servants in the church, for the building up of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come to the harmony of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to full growth, to the full measure of Christ:
14 So that we may be no longer children, sent this way and that, turned about by every wind of teaching, by the twisting and tricks of men, by the deceits of error;
15 But saying true words in love, may come to full growth in him, who is the head, even Christ;
16 Through whom all the body, being rightly formed and united together, by the full working of every part, is increased to the building up of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:11 – 16 [Bible in Basic English]
Please note verse 13 in particular which states that if we do the five-fold ministry we will become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ,
and if that is the situation how can the Church that is set up in this way be anything but the Glorious Church?
The numbers in the general body of all Books 1 through 12 have significance as well, as we can see from the comments below.
Wherever the numbers below are found in the Bible, they are found to have the given contextual meaning.
Multiples of numbers enhance the meaning by the equivalent of the multiple, and meaning of the original number.
To contextualize the above we need to take note of the following in the scriptures:
1 = beginning, source.
2 = witness, testimony
3 = Godhead, wholeness
4 = earth, world, 4 corners, 4 winds, 4 seasons
6 = against man/men, satan
5 = grace, offerings, ministry.
7 = divine perfection, completeness.
8 = Resurrection, new beginnings
9 = Finality, Fullness, time from conception to birth, what God gives.
10 = law order, government, Ten Commandments, human responsibility.
11 = Incompleteness, destruction.
12 = Divine government, 12 apostles, administration.
In God’s kingdom it is never about status; but always about function and responsibility.
Believers — ‘Ecclesia’ — the called out ones [from the world].
This applies to everybody in the Body of Christ, no matter what functions they may have, and this aspect remains eternally, which means that even if one has a world-wide ministry, we must never forget that one is just a believer with other believers, and one fellowships with other believers on that basis, and ministry is part of our function and responsibility not about status.
*Books 1 through 12 in this series, and in particular 3 through 7, are individual explanations of the areas of their concern, based on research into those areas since 1989. Revelation from the Holy Spirit was and is crucial to the impact and grasp of the implications of each section now and into the future..
Jesus said: –
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:17 – 20.
The local Church needs to meet on church ground – that is wherever the Church meets, wherever the Body of Christ manifests, and to build a stronghold – everything that the Body of Christ stands for; to help with –
`The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.
[1 John 3:8b]
What is the responsibility of the brethren?
Each brother or sister must not only bear the responsibility of the local meeting/cell group, but also consider all the brothers and sisters who are in Christian fellowship throughout the earth.
INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM OF FUNCTION WITH CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY WITH INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM OF FUNCTION
….., to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:2, 3, Also 1 Thessalonians 1:6, 7, 2:14.
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