Pastor’s Thoughts – 10-19-2025

I can recall hearing and having discussions concerning the building of the church. I am not referring to the physical structure, but the people who meet together consistently under the name of our assembly (Grace Bible Chapel). From time to time the leadership has had discussions regarding what we could do or should do to add to our number. It is a worthy desire, but we older elders determined some years ago, it really wasn’t our business to build the church in numbers. The people who come and are added to the numbers are something beyond our control. It is not something that any of us could do or should do. What do I mean by this? Certainly, we are glad when people come to GBC. But our assembly is merely a part of the overall universal church which is the work of Christ. This is something we are privileged to be a part of but cannot build by our cunning. If we did function according to some kind of marketing scheme to build numbers or popularity outside the bounds of God’s Word, it would not be His church. The church is a unique unit in the world that belongs to Christ. This is clearly seen in His promise, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matt. 16:18). We, at GBC, by being brought into existence by Him and belonging to Him are part of what God is doing in the world. It is the Lord Jesus Himself who will do the building and nothing will prevent it for He says, “And the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matt. 16:18).

Think of the depth and strength of that statement. First of all, He declares that it is something He will do. He doesn’t say, He may build it, or He could build it, or attempt to build it. Nor does He say to us, “You build My Church.” No, He says “I will build it!” He also makes it clear that the opposition to this building is too much for us for He says, “And the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” That is a description of incredible opposition and powerful abilities beyond humanity. What does He mean by, “The gates of Hades?” There is some disagreement over what gates mean but consider that it was at the gates of the ancient cities where the leaders and judges met. It was considered the location of the city’s highest level of thinking. Christ pictures Satan and his followers working to overthrow His Church. Our Lord promises that their scheming and efforts will fail! He will build His Church regardless of the incredible nature of the opposition. He is Christ Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! He is the almighty God, the Creator and Sustainer. No one or nothing can thwart His will or His purposes!

The idea of building His Church is something to wonder upon. We are told by Scripture that Christ had the blueprint of His Church before the foundation of the world. He would build it over time person by person until the last person He chose to be part of His Church was called into it by faith. Christ stated, “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of everything that He has given Me I will lose nothing but will raise it up on the last day” (John 6:39). Paul tells us that we are no longer strangers and aliens, but he says, “Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Eph. 2:20-21). This is a physical picture of a spiritual reality. Christ is building His Church. Peter tells us the reason the Lord has not returned is that “The Lord is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). The “you” refers by context to all He has chosen to eternal life. His sheep will hear His voice and follow Him (John 10:28).

Most importantly He says, “This is My Church.” It is an assembly of the living God who belong exclusively and particularly to Christ. He would give Himself for His Church. He promises that nothing can separate those who belong to His Church from Him. He will save them, be with them, and ultimately take them to eternal glory. Because of the blessed state of who we are, we are called in our present circumstances by Paul, “The church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). Peter goes even further in describing the privileged position of the redeemed but not yet glorified as, “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God, you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10). Paul also addresses the Church as Christ’s bride (Eph. 5:29). When we view the future given to us in Revelation 19, we see the coming Marriage Supper of the Lamb and with this His Church prepared as a bride for Christ (Rev. 19:7-9).

Are you feeling weary and troubled by the many problems and circumstances of this life? Take to heart that if we belong to Christ by faith, we are part of His Church. There could not be a more blessed state regardless of what is taking place in the immediate. Be strengthened and encouraged. As the writer of Hebrews states, “Yet, in a little while He who is coming will come” (Heb. 10:37). “Come Lord Jesus!”