Matthew 16:18
ADMISSION INTO THE CHURCH
Admission into the Church is strictly spiritual, but with a physical, domestical and economical result.
Admittance into the “Church” is by Faith in Christ, which means to accept what Christ did at Calvary and the Resurrection. Paul stated, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
“For with the heart man believeth unto Righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation.”
Paul then said, “For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:9–10, 13).
As well, the invitation is given to all, irrespective of race or nationality. Paul also said, “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him” (Rom. 10:12).
As is obvious, other than witnessing or preaching the Gospel to individuals, man has nothing to do with admitting the individual into the Church, except to recognize what God has already done, and, likewise, man cannot remove one from the Church.
As well, belonging to a certain congregation, organization, Religious Denomination, or any other type of group, has absolutely nothing to do with being a member of the Body of Christ, i.e., the Church. Unfortunately, many Church groups have led others to believe that association with their group guarantees association with Christ, and disassociation with that group, whatever it may be, causes one to lose association with Christ.
Nothing could be further from the Truth. Association with an earthly group has absolutely nothing to do with one’s Salvation and, likewise, disassociation in no way removes one from association and fellowship with Christ.
So, admittance into the Church, the Body of Christ, is the making of Christ as one’s Saviour, which results in a heartfelt, born-again experience (Jn. 3:3).
Upon being born again, one should certainly seek to be associated with a group of local Believers, if at all possible, who are attempting to follow the Word of God, with it as their criteria.
The phrase, “And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,” actually means “The power of death” shall not prevail against it.
The reference here is to Resurrection and not to infallibility in Doctrine, as asserted by some.
Christ, being the Living God, and His people living stones, they could not be held captive in the mansions of the dead.
On the third day, He, as the True Samson, rose and carried away the gates of hell. They could not prevail against that Rock, i.e., “It.” He prevailed against them; and when He arose all His people arose in and with Him (I Thess. 4:14).
As well as referring to “the power of death,” the “gates of hell” also refers to the iron grip of sinful bondage which binds all of unsaved humanity. This includes sin, sickness, poverty and all other domains of darkness. With the Death and Resurrection of Christ, all of these “gates” fell. As a result, any authority presently held by Satan is a pseudo-authority, or, more particularly, that allowed him by Believers.
This is what Jesus was speaking of when He said, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My Name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
“They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mk. 16:17–18).
To be sure, most, if not all, of these Promises have to do with demon spirits and their expulsion.
For instance, the words, “Take up,” in verse 18, and concerning serpents, have absolutely nothing to do with snakes. The Greek word for “Take up,” is “airo,” and means to “take up, in order to remove, to put away.” It refers to the putting away of demon spirits, which takes place when the Gospel is preached in Power and Anointing, and by the authority of the Name of Jesus, as used by Believers.
The Church is meant to tear down the strongholds of Satan, and to do so by the Power of the Holy Spirit, which is brought into focus by the use of the “Name of Jesus.”
Regrettably, much of the modern Church is no longer a “Living Organism,” empowered from On High, but, instead, an intellectual or academic organization. Unfortunately, Satan does not respond to the intellectual or academic posture. He only responds to the Power of God, as evidenced in the Name of Jesus, used by Spirit-filled Believers.
Tragically, most of the modern Church is a far cry from that intended by the Holy Spirit, according to what Jesus built. Actually, the Book of Acts is meant to serve as an ideal of what the “Church” ought to be.
Regrettably, many have foolishly claimed that the modern Church has outgrown the Book of Acts.
If that is the case, then it means that mere man is more intelligent than the Holy Spirit, which is ludicrous to say the least!
No! The Book of Acts is meant to serve as the criteria, and should not be deviated from. To do so, institutes man’s ways instead of God’s Ways, and proves catastrophic.
~JSM
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