01.01. The Church
1 THE CHURCH
Men speak of the seven wonders of earth and preach on the seven wonders of heaven. But the Church is not among them; it is above them. The Church is the wonder of the universe.
Divine Connection The Church is the only institution that enjoys the glory of divine origin. Christ said, "Upon this rock I will build my church."
It is the only institution that has the promise of divine light Jesus said, "I am the light of the world"; and again He said, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." The Church holds the distinction of having divine leadership. Christ said, "When... the Spirit... is come, he will guide you into all truth."
Divine Commission The Church stands above all other organizations in that it has a divine commission -- a mission far superior to that of any other institution. When Christ was upon earth He healed the sick, trained and taught men’s minds, and saved their souls. On the day of His ascension from the Mount of Olives, He left this commission with His Church: "Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). In Mark 16:15 He said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel."
Divine Promises The Church has a fourfold, God-given promise held by no other institution on earth.
God gives assurance of divine training: "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
God promises divine power, "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." and again, "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."
God promises His divine presence, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."
God promises divine protection, "Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Organization The church is an organization. Organization is essential for the greatest progress. This is true in business, politics, peace, and war: "in unity there is strength." Organization is very vital in religion.
You have heard the illustration of how flowers will grow alone in the fields and forests but they will grow stronger and more beautiful in a garden.
Men may live for God anywhere, but they will be better and finer Christians if they grow up in the fellowship of the church. The highest type of Christian characters in the world have been members of some church. A coal of fire will keep alive and hot much longer on a bed of coals. Separated, it will soon become cold and lifeless.
Indictments The Church has been unmercifully criticized, and the grand juries of the world have indicted her a thousand times; but in spite of all opposition, she stands today, head and shoulders above all other organizations. After you have considered all the failures who have stood in her pulpit, all the hypocrites who have occupied her pews, all the filth unholy men have laid at her doors, all the reproach which unscrupulous and unethical men, professing Christianity, have brought upon her, she is still the grandest old ship afloat.
There isn’t a lodge, or a brotherhood, or an organization, or a society, or a clique, or a clan in all the world that even compares with the Church in either goodness or beauty.
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