Jesus – Our Real Church

One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.” Psalm. 27:4.

This was not only a Psalm of David, but also his wish and will, the beating of his soul. These words explain to us that he deeply loved the Lord. He always had a close relationship with Him. We can find an example of his great love for the Lord in Psalm 119:164, “Seven times a day do I praise thee, because of thy righteous judgments.”

My dear brethren, how many people feel like king David? Search your mind and your heart and ask yourself. Do we have a close relationship with the Lord God, like David did? How many times do we worship the Lord each day? Do you understand this question? How long are we going to waste our time and our life?

The Bible says that the desire of David is: “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Psalm 84:10. “But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.” Psalm 5:7.

We have a proverb in the Tamil language which says, “don’t dwell in the village, if there is no temple.” So, the meaning of this is, the temple is the first house for the people wherever they dwell. It means that the people must worship the Lord. How did the Lord God explain to mankind regarding the method of worship?

Eden was the First Church for Mankind

As we know, our first parents Adam and Eve were created by God on the sixth day of the first week. Their first night was the start of the Holy Sabbath. There was no sin. Before sin entered into this world only two members of the church worshipped the Lord. Think on how cheerful and wonderful an experience this must have been. The first Sabbath observance of Adam in his life in Eden is inexpressible in words. The first sunset in his life was the first opening of the Sabbath in Eden. Man was created on the day of preparation that was the day before the holy Sabbath. On the first holy Sabbath day on this earth in the life of Adam, he observed it along with his Creator and the heavenly angels with a heart full of joy. Think, dear brethren of the privilege of such wonderful blessings from God.

There was no separate church building; the Garden of Eden, the open place of nature was their wonderful church. It was the happiest and most joyful church because the great Creator Jesus was with them as the Church. There was no taint of sin.

When sin entered into the lives of our first parents Adam and Eve, they lost their everlasting life and face-to-face communication with the heavenly hosts, and their Creator Jesus Christ and the church of God in the Garden of Eden.

After sin entered into this world, the method of worship changed for mankind. They started to give offerings that required the shedding of blood for redemption from sin.

Sacrificial Offerings

When anyone committed a sin, sacrificial offerings were to take place before God as instructed by God for redemption from sin. This would continue until the death of Jesus Christ on the cross on behalf of mankind. Jesus Christ is, “the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29. The cruel sacrifice of animals witnessed by the sinner made him realize the awfulness of sin, and decide that he would never commit sin in his life here after. Man sacrificed animals without knowing the reason for the sacrifice. So, this animal offering was of no use to man to set him free from sin because without the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ there is no redemption for mankind.

So, we can understand that these sacrificial offerings were offered temporarily until the death of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Worship in the Sanctuary

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” Exodus 25:8 Here the people of Israel offered their sacrificial offerings to the Lord according to the word of God. “Now this is that which thou shalt offer on the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually. One lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even.” Exodus 29:38, 39. In the time of the Old Testament this animal sacrificial system of offerings were followed by our forefathers, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the people of Israel, judges, kings and prophets.

“… Also their acts of devotion, their energy and liberality in bringing their free-will offerings to Moses are recorded for the benefit of the people of God. Their example in preparing material for the tabernacle so cheerfully is an example for all who truly love the worship of God. Those who prize the blessing of GodÕs sacred presence, when preparing a building that He may meet with them, should manifest greater interest and zeal in the sacred work in proportion as they value their heavenly blessings higher than their earthly comforts. They should realize that they are preparing a house for God.” – The story of Redemption, pp. 152, 153.

Apostle Paul wrote to us, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore, when he cometh into the world, He saith, Sacrifice and offerings thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God.” Hebrews 10:4-7.

Sacrificial Offering of Jesus Christ

Even that there was no redemption for man from sin, these sacrificial offerings of animals continued unto the death of Jesus Christ. Those who offered the animals waited for the coming of Christ to offer Himself as the sacrificial offering; His blood for the real redemption of man. Now here, according to the expectation of all sinners, Jesus Christ came into this world for man. He suffered much torture, was cruelly crucified on Calvary, He shed His blood, died and was buried and then resurrected victoriously in the breaking of the sepulcher. Hereafter there is no offering necessary for the redemption of man; and with this, all the sacrificial offerings were finished with the sacrificial offering of Jesus Christ. “The Messiah, which isÉ the Christ.” John 1:14 “The Messiah shall be cut off… And He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease…” Daniel 9:26, 27.

King Solomon Built the House of the Lord

From the time of Adam and Eve, people worshipped the Lord at altars, and the sanctuary with bloodshed offerings. They didn’t have a permanent place of worship. King David tried to make a permanent house for the Lord. “That the king (David) said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. But our loving Lord replied to him, when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for My name…” 2 Samuel 7:2, 12, 13.

David Gathered Materials for the Church

“With deepest interest the king (David) had gathered the rich material for building and beautifying the temple. He had composed the glorious anthems that in afteryears should echo through its courts. Now his heart was made glad in God, as the chief of the fathers and the princes of Israel so nobly responded to his appeal, and offered themselves to the important work before them. And as they gave their service, they were disposed to do more. They swelled the offerings, giving of their own possessions into the treasury. David had felt deeply his own unworthiness in gathering the material for the house of God, and the expression of loyalty in the ready response of the nobles of his kingdom, as with willing hearts they dedicated their treasures to Jehovah and devoted themselves to His service, filled him with joy. But it was God alone who had imparted this disposition to His people. He, not man, must be glorified. It was He who had provided the people with the riches of earth, and His Spirit had made them willing to bring their precious things for the temple. It was all of the Lord; if His love had not moved upon the hearts of the people, the kingÕs efforts would have been vain, and the temple would never have been erected.” PP, pp. 752, 753.

According to the will of God, King Solomon began to build the house of the Lord. When he started the construction, he said, “And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house of the Lord God of Israel. And the Lord said unto David my father, whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart. Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name. So the Lord hath performed his word which he spake; for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised; and have built an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.” 1 Kings 8:17-20; 1 Chronicles 17:4 – 12.

From the time of King Solomon, the people of Israel went to Jerusalem yearly to worship the Lord. This took place until the period of the disciples of Jesus Christ. After that the people worshipped the Lord everywhere.

The Voice of the Prophet about Church Buildings

King Solomon built a wonderful church to the Lord. Yet he said about the church, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?” 1 Kings 8:27. We read in the book of Acts about the church building. “But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit, the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet; Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?” Acts 7:47 – 50; Isaiah 66: 1, 2.

“…and this house, which I have hallowed for my name will I cast out of my sight.” 1 Kings 9:7. “Thus saith the Lord of hosts… the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.” Jeremiah 26:18; Micah 3: 12.

Jesus said about the church building, “And Jesus said unto them, “See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” Matthew 24:2.

You are the Temple of God

Every year the people of Israel went to the church at Jerusalem to worship the Lord God. But now the Lord God comes to the church within us. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Rev. 3:20. Why does the Lord God knock at the door of our heart? Apostle Paul replies to this question. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 1 Corinthians 3: 16,17.

My dear brethren, according to the word of God, we, our soul, body and spirit are the temple of God. So we have to keep clean, holy and perfect, the temple of God. Why? We do not belong to ourselves, but we solely belong to God. The Holy Bible asks us, “What know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20.

So my dear brethren, let us sing as follows:

“Our hearts are temples
Our thoughts are offerings
Our love is prayer
Kindly accept these, my Lord.”

The First Church was the Best Church

Before sin entered into the world, Jesus was the real and original Church to our first parents Adam and Eve. Yes, the first Church was the best church. After sin entered into this earth, from Adam to our time today, the method of worship changed in many different ways among mankind. But the real church, Jesus Christ was there at creation and with our first parents. This will continue in the new heaven and the new earth. Yes, the real and everlasting Church of Jesus Christ will be the true Church for the redeemed souls in the new heaven and the new earth. “And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones: ÉAnd the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein, for the Lord God Almighty and the lamb are the temple.” Rev. 21:19-22.

Two thousands years ago, when our Saviour Jesus Christ was on this earth, He explained very clearly about Himself as our Church. “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, forty and six years was this temple in building,, and wilt Thou rear it up in three days? But He spake of the temple of His body.” – John 2:19-21; Matthew 26:61; 27:40; Mark 14:57; 15:29.

We can see all around us and in all our thoughts that our loving Saviour Jesus Christ is the center of all; in the Holy Bible and throughout the history of the world, also. Without Jesus, there is nothing.

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. ÒI have longed for thy salvation, ” Lord, and thy law is my delight.” Psalm 119:174.

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men,
And He will dwell with them,
And they shall be His people,
And God Himself shall be with them,
And be their God.” Rev 21:3.

AMEN.

S. Raj Israel, India