Vineyard Labourer Bible College

Study 30

DOES GOD HAVE A CHURCH TODAY?

God has a church, and she has a divinely appointed ministry. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ."

God has a church on earth who are lifting up the down-trodden law, and presenting to the world the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. The church is the depositary of the wealth of the riches of the grace of Christ, and through the church eventually will be made manifest the final and full display of the love of God to the world that is to be lightened with its glory. The prayer of Christ that his church may be one as he was one with his Father, will finally be answered. The rich dowry of the Holy Spirit will be given, and through its constant supply to the people of God, they will become witnesses in the world of the power of God unto salvation.

WHAT SAITH THE LORD

1. Who did God say were His people? Ezekiel 34:30; Hebrews 8:10.

"Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD." Ezekiel 34:30.

"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:" Hebrews 8:10.

2. Does this mean that all of Abraham's descendants are part of the true "house of Israel"? Romans 9:6-8.

"Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed." Romans 9:6-8.

3. If not all literal descendants are God's people, who is? Romans 2:28, 29. (Also see John 8:39, 40, 44.)

"For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." Romans 2:28, 29.

Also see:-

"They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. . . Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." John 8:39, 40, 44.

4. How can we become part of God's true Israel? Galatians 3:7, 8, 14, 26-29.

"Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. . . That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. . . For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 3:7, 8, 14, 26-29.

5. Is there any hope for those who do not believe on the Son of God? 1 John 5:10-12.

"He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1 John 5:10-12.

6. Besides "Israel" what other terms is used to describe God's people? Ephesians 1:22, 23; Colossians 1:24.

"And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." Ephesians 1:22, 23.

"Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:" Colossians 1:24.

7. What symbol is used to represent Israel or Zion in prophecy? Jeremiah 6:2. (Also see Isaiah 51:16; 2 Corinthians 11:2.)

"I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman." Jeremiah 6:2.

Also see:-

"And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people." Isaiah 51:16.

"For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." 2 Corinthians 11:2.

8. What will the dragon do to God's last-day church, which is symbolised by a woman? Revelation 12:17.

"And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Revelation 12:17.

Note: Revelation 12 gives a description of God's church from the coming of the Messiah - the birth of the man child, through to the end of time.

9. What are the two identifying marks of the remnant or last part of the true church? Revelation 12:17; 14:12.

"And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Revelation 12:17.

"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Revelation 14:12.

10. What is the testimony of Jesus Christ? Revelation 19:10.

"And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." Revelation 19:10.

11. What did God promise to the church in the last days? Acts 2:17, 18.

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:" Acts 2:17, 18.

12. About whom did Jesus warn in the last days? Matthew 24:24.

"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Matthew 24:24.

13. How should we check on those who claim to be prophets? 1 John 4:1-3.

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world." 1 John 4:1-3.

14. How can you prove a true prophet from a false one?

A) Isaiah 8:20:-
"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah 8:20.

B) Deuteronomy 18:22:-
"When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him." Deuteronomy 18:22.

C) Matthew 7:20:-
"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Matthew 7:20.

15. What physical manifestations does the Bible mention regarding a prophet when in vision?

A) Daniel 10:8:-
"Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength." Daniel 10:8.

B) Daniel 10:15:-
"And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb." Daniel 10:15.

C) Daniel 10:16:-
"And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength." Daniel 10:16.

D) Daniel 10:17:-
"For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me." Daniel 10:17.

E) Daniel 10:18:-
"Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me," Daniel 10:18.

F) Jeremiah 1:9:-
"Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth." Jeremiah 1:9.

G) Numbers 24:16:-
"He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:" Numbers 24:16.

H) 2 Corinthians 12:2-4:-
"I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." 2 Corinthians 12:2-4.

16. What is one thing a prophet cannot do? Numbers 23:20.

"Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it." Numbers 23:20.

17. What did Jeremiah do about his original prophecy that the king burned? Jeremiah 36:32.

"Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words." Jeremiah 36:32.

18. How many will find the way to eternal life? Matthew 7:13, 14.

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:13, 14.

While most of Christendom worship on Sunday, God's true people will keep His Commandments, including the 4th which is the 7th day Sabbath, and will be blessed by the Holy Spirit with the gift of prophecy. After two men, one after the other, refused to be God's messenger, He chose a 17 year old woman, Ellen G. White who received many visions, dreams, warning and reproofs which she passed on as God directed. She wrote about Jesus, Scriptures, prophecies, education, health, marriage, administration, and last day events. She had a faith which can be described by the name "Seventh-day Adventist." Below are a couple of her quotes on this subject:-

"Let us take our position as Seventh-day Adventists. The name is a true expression of our faith. I am instructed to call upon God's people to bring their actions into harmony with their name, of which they have no need to be ashamed. The Seventh-day Adventist faith will bless whenever it is brought into the character-building."
Battle Creek Letters page 52.

"No name which we can take will be appropriate but that which accords with our profession, and expresses our faith, and marks us as a peculiar people. The name, Seventh-day Adventist, is a standing rebuke to the Protestant world. Here is the line of distinction between the worshipers of God, and those who worship the beast, and receive his mark. The great conflict is between the commandments of God and the requirements of the beast. It is because the saints are keeping all ten of the commandments that the dragon makes war upon them; and if they will lower the standard and yield the peculiarities of their faith, the dragon will be at peace. But God's people excite the ire of the dragon because they have dared to raise the standard, and unfurl their banner in opposition to the Protestant world, who are worshiping the institution of Papacy.

"The name, Seventh-day Adventist, carries the true features of our faith in front, and will convict the inquiring mind. Like an arrow from the Lord's quiver, it will wound the transgressors of God's law, and will lead to repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ."
Spiritual Gifts 4B pages 54, 55.

"God has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations: it is the people who love God and keep His Commandments. 'Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them' (Matthew 18:20). Where Christ is, even among the humble few, this is Christ's church, for the presence of the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity can alone constitute a church."
The Upward Look page 315.

Seventh-day Adventism is a faith, whose name signifies that they keep the 7th Day Sabbath, and look forward to the Second Advent of Jesus Christ. John tell us:-

"Here is the patience of the saints:
here are they that keep the commandments of God,
and the faith of Jesus."
Revelation 14:12.