THE LAW OF FIRST MENTION: CHURCH

The word “church” can only be found three times in the Gospels (Once in Matthew 16:18; and twice in Matthew 18:17).

Ekklesia, the Greek word translated “church,” refers to the people called to gather for His purposes. The church is not the building… it’s the people… His people. There is a universal church and a local church. The universal church is all born-again, spirit-filled, Bible believing people throughout all the ages. There have been, there are, and there will be until Christ comes to Rapture His own, multitudes of local churches. There was a local church in Jerusalem, in Philippi, in Corinth, in Rome, etc. Today there is a local church that meets at 5209 South Georgia Street.

In reply to Peter’s acknowledgement of Jesus as the “Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16), Jesus declared, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:17-18).

The church is founded and formed on the confession and on the reality that Jesus, our Savior and Lord, is indeed the great, gracious, and glorious Son of God, and the fulfillment of each and every Old Testament Messianic prophecy.

The church isn’t built on the ingenuity or hard work or morality of man. The church is God’s creation. Jesus said, “I will build my church!” The church in nothing less than a miraculous creation. We, the members of Christ’s church, are knit together by His creative touch.

The church isn’t the pastor’s or the people’s. It’s not my church. It’s His church! Lock, stock and barrel, the church belongs to Jesus. We are simply His stewards.

And the church may be persecuted. It may be oppressed, harassed, and hassled, but Christ’s church is empowered by Almighty God. Even hell and every demonic spirit “will not overpower it.” Never!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).