I was recently thinking on the number of questions people have regarding God’s visible church. In the last decade I have met many people who were questioning if they need to be a part of this church. They said it is not important to be part of God’s true Church because God loves all churches the same; since He is love, no matter what we are doing, whether we keep His commandments or not, God still loves us. This is true; God loves people. He loves us so much that He gave His life for us. Therefore, we should understand a very important thing: God cannot save us while we continue in sin. Jesus atoning death on the cross cannot save me if I have all the evidence from the Scriptures and I turn my back on Him. In other words, if the truth has been revealed to me in such a way that I understand everything regarding the plan of salvation and its requirements such as commitment through baptism, faithfulness in offerings and returning the 10% from all my income to God, health and dress reform, and so forth, if this wonderful truth is not put into practice in our daily life, then God cannot save us—not because He does not want us to be saved, but because we harden our hearts—closing the only avenue the Holy Spirit works through, in making the truth a sanctified truth in our lives, preparing men and women for eternity. This is the character we must form in order to be saved, our recommendation for heaven through the merits of Christ on the cross. We know that the church does not save anyone by itself; it is Jesus who saves us, and through His atoning blood. But also the church plays a great role in our salvation as a family. Don’t misunderstand me, I want to make clear the point from the beginning—the church as a denomination, whatever its name is cannot save me—Christ alone and His righteousness, when received into our lives bring us together in what the Bible calls the church, which represents Christ’s body.

EKKLESIA—THE CALLED OUT

In the Scriptures, the word “church” is a translation of the Greek “ekklesia” which means “a calling out.” This expression was commonly used for any assembly summoned by the practice of calling people to meet. The Septuagint, the Greek version of the Hebrew Old Testament, popular in Jesus’ time, used ekklesia to translate the Hebrew qahal, which stood for “gathering,” “assembly,” or “congregation.”  “And the Lord delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.” Deuteronomy 9:10. “According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.” Deuteronomy 18:16.

This usage was broadened in the New Testament. We can see how it uses the term “church”:  believers assembled for worship in a specific place, believers living in a certain locality, a group of believers in the home of an individual, or a group of congregations in a given geographic area, the whole body of believers throughout the world, the whole faithful creation in heaven and on earth, as Paul mentioned to the Ephesians. These are only a few examples given by Paul in order to understand the meaning of a church in terms of the Biblical definition.

So, we have seen until now the Biblical meaning of “church.” What is the nature of “the Church of God” as the Apostle Paul calls it in Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 1:2? It is a Divine institution, invested by Christ with Divine authority, according to the words spoken by Christ in Matthew 18:17–18, “And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it to the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say to you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Having a special message to be given to the entire world before Jesus’ second coming, preparing a people, a special people as declared in the book of Revelation 14:12 as the remnant who keeps God’s commandments and the faith of Jesus.

God’s servant, Ellen G. White wrote about the purpose of God’s church. “The church is God’s appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the beginning it has been God’s plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvellous light, are to show forth His glory. The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to ‘the principalities and powers in heavenly places,’ a final and full display of the love of God. Ephesians 3:10.” –The Acts of Apostles, p. 9

So, the church is God’s fortress, His city of refuge, which He holds in a revolted world and we are His witnesses. The roots of the Christian church in the Old Testament also portrays the church as an organized congregation of God’s people from earliest times. They were God-fearing families in the lineage of Adam, Set, Noah, Shem and Abraham, who were the guardians of God’s truth. In the New Testament the book of Acts portrays how God’s people were brought out from Egypt and were called God’s peculiar and chosen people—the church or congregation in the wilderness (Acts 7:38). This is a very important passage in the Scriptures that shows us the continuity of God’s church in the New Testament.

God desired, through Israel, to create the largest church on earth—a church where representatives of all nations of the world would come to worship, learn of the true God, and return to their own people with the message of salvation. They failed in fulfilling God’s purpose and unto us is given this great opportunity and privilege of proclaiming this great commission. Christ is the founder of Christianity from where its name derives. Let us ask ourselves some important questions; what is the visible church? Does God have a visible congregation or church? If yes, is it important to be a part of it? Does it affect my salvation?

THE GREAT COMMISSION

According to the Bible, the visible church is God’s church organized for service. It fulfills Christ’s great commission to carry the gospel to the world (Matthew 28:18–20), and prepares people for His glorious return (1 Thessalonians 5:23; Ephesians 5:27). Christ’s specially chosen witnesses preach the gospel to the poor, and heal the broken-hearted. The question that should concern us is this: am I willing to search for the truth, not through churches but from the Bible and the Bible alone? Am I ready to give up my own ideas and take what is truth? Now, we also have the invisible church, which is composed of all God’s people throughout the world. It includes the believers who, though they do not belong to a church organization, have followed all the light Christ has given them (John 1:9). This latter group includes those who have never had the opportunity to learn the truth about Jesus Christ but who have responded to the Holy Spirit and “do by nature the things contained in the law” of God (Romans 2:14).

A very good example in the Scriptures of how God leads His people to His church is the example of Saul of Tarsus, also called Paul. When Paul was converted, God put him in touch with His visible church and then appointed him to lead out in the mission of His church (Acts 9:10–22). Here is a tangible point regarding salvation and work through the church. The same is today; He intends to lead His people into His visible church, characterized by loyalty to God’s commandments and possessing the faith of Jesus, so they may participate in finishing His mission on earth. The terms “visible” and “invisible” have been used to distinguish two aspects of the church on earth, so that you and I may not be confused regarding the importance of present truth and its power of regeneration in terms of salvation in and through the church. In other words, my brother, my sister and dear friend, when God reveals truth in all its fullness and it is accepted into my life, the next step is my willingness to being a part of Christ’s body, which is the visible church, the one that Christ nourishes and cares about.

Let me ask you a question here—have you made a covenant with God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? Are you an active member in the church—waiting for and hastening the coming of the Lord Jesus? Peter said in his epistle; 2 Peter 3:10–18, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

XXIn this time we are living let me remind you, my friend, this is not an easy time; it is not the time for speaking smooth things or having a mere superficial experience with the Lord. This is not a time for undecided people; you and I must make sure which side we choose today. The right one, whose leader is Jesus, or the wrong one, whose leader is Satan. There will come a time in which the middle ground does not exist, I want to say that those people who today know all the truth and are convicted by it, but denying the power and impression upon the heart, choose the easy way; they choose the desires of the flesh, and put themselves in that place where God cannot save them.

Are you with me? Do you understand the importance of obeying God voluntarily and accepting the appeal of the Holy Spirit? Maybe there have been new truths revealed to you recently and there has temporarily been a conviction, but you did not pay attention to it. But listen, my friend, could it be possible that that conviction one day will go away and the conscience will not tell you anything when you are wrong? I say, it is dangerous to play with conviction in terms of truth and salvation. I say to you today, my brother, my sister, dear friend, come boldly to the throne of grace and say, “Jesus, whatever truth has been revealed to me, whatever appeal of conviction from Your servants Lord, whatever it is, please help me to receive it as coming from You, Lord.” Because, when we do that there is healing, there is power, spiritual power coming down from on high, making men and women able to live a righteous life here on this planet Earth.

Are you tired of getting ready for Jesus in your own strength? Do you know how much you can accomplish without Jesus? Jesus said, “nothing.” “Without Me”, Jesus said, “you can do nothing.” But, praise God, there is a wonderful promise to those who put their trust in Jesus. Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” All things means much, doesn’t it? Jesus said in John 10:16, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” If we believe with all our hearts that God has a visible church, a visible remnant, people working for the salvation of mankind, then we must do take our part in proclaiming this great commission committed to the church by Christ Himself just prior to His ascension to His Father in Heaven.

I do believe with all my heart that Jesus called me and gave me this great privilege to go in His Name and call people to repentance because the time is short—so little time remains for our preparation. Do you want to join these people who give the trumpet a certain sound, calling people out of Babylon, which means (spiritual confusion) and preparing them for our Lord’s soon second coming?  That God has a visible, remnant church in the time of the end is clearly taught in Revelation 12. We believe that the woman is a symbol of the church (see Isaiah 54:5, 6; 2 Corinthians 11:2); the dragon is Satan (v. 9); the man child is Christ (Revelation 19:15); and the 1,260 prophetic days refer to the period of papal supremacy from the sixth to the end of the eighteenth century (AD 538-1798).

THE INVISIBLE CHURCH

As far back as Martin Luther, Christians have recognized that God has an invisible church which consists of members from all Christian churches, because there are faithful members in all communions, including that of Rome. They have accepted Christ as their personal Saviour, and they are counted as His people. Therefore, in Revelation 18:4, in the time of the end, and this is that time, the call is made, “Come out of her (Babylon) My people.” Many of God’s people are still in Babylon; they belong to God’s invisible church. At the time of the “Loud Cry” of Revelation 18:4, they will come out and join God’s visible remnant church.

We know that the loud cry of Revelation 18 will be a powerful repetition of the messages of the three angels of Revelation 14. As the early church received the early rain which was poured out in the day of Pentecost, we do expect the latter rain which will be poured upon God’s remnant people in the last days, and this time is now. God is willing to bestow upon us His Holy Spirit. Why have we not received the latter rain yet? The answer is simply because we are not prepared. Do you remember the 120 in the upper room who were in one accord, as the Bible says? They were one in Christ, confessing their wrong doings to one another and their sins to God. What about us, my friends, are we in one accord in Christ? Do we confess our mistakes to one another, asking for forgiveness and healing from God? I am afraid we are not doing that properly, as we still have pride, human ambition and self-righteousness. The question is: When will I be willing to give up everything for Christ? Even the worst of all my ambitions or my ego? Let us ask God for power, He will give us sufficient strength to overcome all bad habits and selfishness.  We know not the time when the latter rain in its fullness is to fall; this is not revealed to us in the Bible or by God’s servant, Ellen White. I want to conclude with these two quotations from the Spirit of Prophecy which seem to me as very important signs in my preparation for our soon returning King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ.

The Time of the Latter Rain

“I have no specific time of which to speak when the outpouring of the Holy Spirit will take place —when the mighty angel will come down from heaven, and unite with the third angel in closing up the work for this world; my message is that our only safety is in being ready for the heavenly refreshing, having our lamps trimmed and burning. Christ has told us to watch; ‘for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh.’ ‘Watch and pray’ is the charge that is given us by our Redeemer.” –Selected Messages, book 1, p. 192

“The message of Christ’s righteousness is to sound from one end of the earth to the other to prepare the way of the Lord. This is the glory of God, which closes the work of the third angel.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 19

May God richly bless us.

Amen!

Nicholas Anca