The Importance of the local church

The local church has been saved by the blood of Jesus and made holy unto him!

Ephesians 5:25–27

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Jesus spilled his blood to save the church.  He loves the church enough to die for it.  He cleansed the church to be made holy before God.  His blood made the church pure and holy before God.  He established peace with God and the church so that it can do its mission!

The local church will be built, grow, and overcome evil in the power of Jesus!

Matthew 16:18

“…I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail over it.”

Jesus, the authoritative God of the universe, who has all power and authority gives this sure promise.  He will build the church.  He will make it grow.  It is a done deal.  It is going to happen!   The church will prevail over Satan and darkness.  No evil force can stop the church from growing so that eventually people every tribe and tongue people and nation will belong to the church!!

The local church is the dwelling place of God that supports and protects God’s message!

1 Timothy 3:15

If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

• God’s Spirit is alive in the people who inhabit the local church, dwelling place where God is alive and working.
• The local churches support the truth, uphold, it uplift it.
• The local churches protect the truth from what is false.  Buttress is like a protective barrier/wall/foundation.  So that the churches protect the truth of the gospel from false teachings.

The local church is God’s primary means by which he accomplishes his work and mission!

New Testament pattern—the gospel spread is through the ministry of the local churches that were established.  Paul, believers, started churches, wrote letters, checked in on them, the message of the gospel spreads through the churches.  That is God’s primary means by which he accomplishes his work and mission.  Through us as we use our gifts in the church and reach out through it!