Topical Bible: Church: Strength and Glory of God

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The concept of the Church as the strength and glory of God is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, reflecting the divine purpose and presence within the community of believers. The Church, as the body of Christ, serves as a testament to God's power and majesty, manifesting His will on earth and embodying His eternal glory.

Biblical Foundation

The Church is described as the body of Christ, with Jesus Himself as the head. This imagery underscores the unity and interdependence of believers, as well as the divine authority and strength that flows from Christ to His Church. In Ephesians 1:22-23, the Apostle Paul writes, "And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all" . This passage highlights the Church's role in manifesting the fullness of Christ, who is the source of its strength and glory.

Strength of God in the Church

The strength of God is evident in the Church's ability to withstand persecution, endure trials, and overcome spiritual adversities. The early Church, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, exemplifies this divine strength. Despite facing severe opposition, the Church grew and flourished, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Acts 4:31 states, "After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly" . This boldness and resilience are indicative of the strength that God imparts to His Church.

Furthermore, the strength of the Church is not merely physical or organizational but deeply spiritual. In Ephesians 6:10, believers are exhorted to "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power" . This strength is derived from a close relationship with God, reliance on His Word, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

Glory of God in the Church

The glory of God is revealed in the Church through its worship, witness, and works. The Church is called to reflect God's glory to the world, serving as a beacon of His light and truth. In 1 Peter 2:9, believers are described as "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" . This calling emphasizes the Church's role in showcasing the glory of God through its collective life and mission.

The glory of God is also evident in the transformative power of the Gospel, which the Church is commissioned to proclaim. As individuals and communities are transformed by the message of Christ, the glory of God is made manifest. In 2 Corinthians 3:18, Paul writes, "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" . This transformation is a testament to the glorious work of God within the Church.

The Church as a Reflection of God's Glory

The Church, as the bride of Christ, is destined to share in His glory. Ephesians 5:27 speaks of Christ's intention "to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless" . This eschatological vision underscores the ultimate glorification of the Church, reflecting the purity and splendor of God.

In summary, the Church embodies the strength and glory of God through its unity in Christ, spiritual resilience, transformative mission, and ultimate destiny. As the living body of Christ on earth, the Church is both a recipient and a reflector of God's divine attributes, called to manifest His power and majesty to the world.

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Psalm 78:61
And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

On the Church of God and of Christ: or on the Church in General ...
... life, and bestows on the whole man strength and power ... contains the chief good of
the church, is blessedness ... From this, results the glory of God, who unites the ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation l on the church.htm

The Abiding of the Spirit the Glory of the Church
... meant to light it up with a glory greater than ... They were not spending their strength
for nought, but ... History certainly repeats itself within the church of God ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 32 1886/the abiding of the spirit.htm

New Testament Hymns
... Unto him be glory in the church by Christ ... power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength,
and honour ... Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour ...
/.../christian hymns of the first three centuries/iii new testament hymns.htm

In God's Name I Beseech You Let Prayer Nourish Your Soul as Your ...
... without the Divine presence or the Divine glory, and on ... prayer, the sign by which
the Church has conquered ... beauty of its holiness, by the strength and elevation ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/purpose in prayer/chapter viii in gods name.htm

Symbolic Ornaments of the Church
... to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and
blessing.". ... company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the ...
/.../regester/the worship of the church/symbolic ornaments of the church.htm

The Ascension of Messiah to Glory
... Thus MESSIAH subdued the strength and policy of the powers of ... Satan, though still
an enemy to His Church and Cause ... the light of the knowledge of the glory of God ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xxvi the ascension of.htm

Hymns of the Russian Church
... XXII Thou art my strength, O God my Lord ... TRANSFIGURATION When glory crowned the mountain
top ... It has been left for the Russian Church to make them for the Greeks ...
//christianbookshelf.org/brownlie/hymns of the russian church/

Prayer and Devotion
... or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God ... much going here and there, in
present-day Church life, but ... But it is an activity springing from strength and not ...
/.../bounds/the essentials of prayer/iii prayer and devotion.htm

The Boasted Merit of Works Subversive Both of the Glory of God, in ...
... in a sound sense, saying, "Why is the Church anxious about ... the way, and left us to
follow it in our own strength? ... his whole soul was intent on the glory of his ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 15 the boasted merit.htm

Strength and Indwelling.
... he asked that we might know the riches of God's glory. ... Strength, indwelling, love,
and knowledge are to issue in fulness ... Christ and with His body the Church (ch ...
/.../thomas/the prayers of st paul/viii strength and indwelling.htm