Topical Bible: The Church: Not to be Despised

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The Church, as the body of Christ, holds a central and sacred place in Christian theology and practice. It is not merely a human institution but a divine establishment, ordained by God for the purpose of worship, fellowship, and the proclamation of the Gospel. The Church is described in Scripture as the "pillar and foundation of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15), underscoring its vital role in upholding and disseminating the teachings of Christ.

Biblical Foundation

The Church is founded upon the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus declares, "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it." This statement highlights the Church's divine origin and its enduring nature against spiritual opposition. The Church is not to be despised, as it is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20).

The Body of Christ

The Apostle Paul frequently uses the metaphor of the body to describe the Church, emphasizing its unity and diversity. In 1 Corinthians 12:27, he writes, "Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it." This imagery conveys the interconnectedness of believers, each with unique gifts and roles, working together to fulfill the mission of the Church. To despise the Church is to disregard the very body of Christ, which He cherishes and for which He sacrificed Himself (Ephesians 5:25).

The Bride of Christ

The Church is also depicted as the Bride of Christ, a symbol of purity, devotion, and covenantal love. In Ephesians 5:25-27, Paul exhorts husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the Church, "to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless." This imagery underscores the Church's esteemed position and the profound love Christ has for it, further affirming that it should not be treated with contempt.

The Temple of the Holy Spirit

The Church is described as the temple of the Holy Spirit, a dwelling place for God's presence. In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, Paul writes, "Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple." This passage highlights the sanctity of the Church and the severe consequences of despising or harming it.

The Community of Believers

The early Church exemplified a community of believers devoted to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42). This communal aspect is essential to the Church's identity, providing support, accountability, and encouragement to its members. Hebrews 10:24-25 urges believers not to forsake assembling together, "but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." The Church is a vital source of spiritual nourishment and growth, not to be neglected or undervalued.

The Mission of the Church

The Church is entrusted with the Great Commission, as articulated by Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you." This mission underscores the Church's role in spreading the Gospel and making disciples, a task that requires reverence and commitment.

In summary, the Church is a divine institution, integral to God's redemptive plan and deserving of honor and respect. It is the body and bride of Christ, the temple of the Holy Spirit, and the community of believers, all of which highlight its sacred and indispensable nature.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Corinthians 11:22
What? have you not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise you the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Human Directions not to be Despised, Though God Makes the True ...
... Chapter 16."Human Directions Not to Be Despised, Though God ... or that the Apostle Paul
should not have given ... obtained the position of a teacher in the Church. ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 16 human directions not to.htm

Of the Power of the Church in Articles of Faith. The Unbridled ...
... For what, pray, will they make of it, but just that the consent of the Church, a
consent never given but to the word of God, is not to be despised? ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 8 of the power.htm

The Presentation of the Church by Christ to Himself.
... of sin shall be found in the Church, and not a "wrinkle ... which tells of the presentation
of the Church is to ... Him when He endured the Cross and despised the shame ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/6 the presentation of the.htm

Of the True Church. Duty of Cultivating Unity with Her, as the ...
... This method of education not to be despised. Useful to us in two ways. This utility
destroyed by those who despise the pastors and teachers of the Church. ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 1 of the true.htm

The Millennium in Relation to the Church.
... The Church will be with Christ throughout the Millennium, and not ... Yes, it is written,
"Do ye not know that the ... who really walk as such) are despised and hated ...
/.../pink/the redeemers return/3 the millennium in relation.htm

Because of Its Bearing Upon Christ Himself.
... predestined member to be added to the Church which is ... Nay, may we not go further,
and reverently say, from ... that was set before Him that He despised the cross ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/4 because of its bearing.htm

Our Hope is not the Conversion of the World.
... During the first generation of the Church's history, wonderful ... their Master, they,
too, were despised and rejected ... it is that their labors were not entirely in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/1 our hope is not.htm

On Christian Doctrine In Four Books.
... Chapter 16.--Human Directions Not to Be Despised, Though God ... 21.--Examples of the
Various Styles, Drawn from the Teachers of the Church, Especially Ambrose ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on christian doctrine in four books /

On Assembling in the Church.
... its glory for that which will not profit." [2845] How, therefore, will any one make
his apology who has despised or absented himself from the church of God? ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec vii on assembling in the.htm

His Arrival in Apulia, Venice, Ferrara, and Genoa --He is ...
... AND GENOA"HE IS APPREHENDED AS A SPY"HE IS DESPISED AS A ... time, he asked his teacher
to come to the Church of Blessed Mary of the Sea, not far from ...
/.../loyola/the autobiography of st ignatius/chapter v his arrival in.htm