Whats is the church? -The church as a pillar of truth
"So that, if I'm late, you know how people should behave in God's family. This is the church of the Living God, column and foundation of Truth. " 1 Timothy 3:15 NTV
The church as a divine institution on Earth has this very important mission of being a pillar and a bulwark of truth.
A column is a structure built and specially designed to support all the weight that is placed on it. On the other hand a bulwark is an impenetrable barrier for enemy forces, this barrier is like a wall where the enemy has to stop.
The church as a pillar of truth
The church has the great task of supporting the whole weight of truth. To hold the truth is to practise the truth, not like the Pharisees who were accustomed to take the burden on others but they didn't even want to touch that burden with a finger.
"In the chair of Moses sit the scribes and the Pharisees. So, whatever they tell you to Akeep, Guardadlo and do it; But do not do according to his works, for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy and hard-to-carry loads, and lay them on the shoulders of men; But they do not want to move them with a finger "(Matthew 23:2-4).
The burden of truth must be supported by the church, but the church is made up of individuals so each individual must sustain the weight of his own burden.
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, if anyone would come after me, refuse himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24).
The Cross of Christ represents the burden of truth. But it is not a question of supporting the weight of truth for just a moment or for some time, but it is the burden of every day.
"And he said to all: if anyone wants to come after me, refuse himself, take up his cross every day, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23).
The church as the bulwark of truth
We said that a bulwark is like a wall built to present a defense against enemies. The church is the wall that Christ has built for the defense of Truth against the enemies of Christ, who are the enemies of truth. In this respect we can do our God's words to Jeremiah.
"You, then, confine your loins, arise, and speak unto them as I command thee; Fear not before them, that I may not make you break before them. For behold, I have put you on this day as a fortified city, as a pillar of iron, and as a brass wall against all this land, against the kings of Judah, their princes, their priests, and the people of the Earth. And they will fight against you, but they shall not defeat you; For I am with you, saith the Lord, to deliver You "(Jeremiah 1:17-19).
God has put the Church as a pillar of iron, as a bronze wall against all the Earth. The church is that city or fortified house where the truth lies. The truth cannot be broken, and much less can be rekindled in this fortification.
"Otherwise, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his strength. Put on all the armour of God, that ye may stand against the snares of the devil. For we have no fight against blood and flesh, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the governors of the darkness of this century, against the spiritual hosts of evil in the celestial regions. Wherefore, take all the armour of God, that ye may resist in the wicked Day, and having finished everything, be steadfast. So be firm, thine your loins with the truth, and clothed in the breastplate of righteousness, and shod feet with the sizing of the Gospel of peace. Above all, take the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helm of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God "(Ephesians 6:10-17).
Just as Jeremiah, each of the Christians must be dressed in all the spiritual armor so that he can stand firm at the time of the enemy's attack. The enemy of truth is the devil with all his powers and principalities, his spiritual hosts of evil in the celestial regions. God has in the church his instrument of righteousness for the defense of Truth, while the devil has in the world his instrument of wickedness. So the fight is against the world and its lusts and against the Devil's instruments on Earth. But if the church fails in its mission to be the defense of the truth, what it says in Isaiah happens.
"And the right withdrew, and justice was put away; Because the truth stumbled into the square, and fairness couldn't come. And the truth was stopped, and the one who turned from evil was put into prison; And the Lord saw him, and he displeased his eyes, for the law died. And he saw that there was no man, and he marveled that there was no one to brought; And he saved his arm, and said his righteousness to him "(Isaiah 59:14-16).
Brethren, God may be asking right now where is his church that does not come out in defense of the truth. God is seeing the injustice on Earth; How those who do good are run over; How the smallest in the Kingdom of Christ is being despised, how the one who does evil is applauded and praised and God wonders that he cannot find who stands, that he does not find who raises his voice in defense of justice , in defense of the truth. The bulwark of truth, has failed in its mission, has let the truth be overwhelmed by the instruments of Satan.
That is why it is important to remember that this spiritual house must be built with living stones, not hay and straw, because otherwise the enemy will enter the House of God and wreak havoc.
"Ye also, as living stones, be built as a spiritual house and a holy priesthood, to offer acceptable spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5). The fire will taste every stone in the spiritual building and you can imagine what happens with hay and straw, are the first to be consumed. "And if on this foundation some will build gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, leaves, the work of each one shall become manifest; For the day will declare it, for by the fire shall be revealed; And the work of each one, the fire will prove it "(1 Corinthians 3:12-13).
Brethren, the church is a pillar and a bulwark of truth. It is the depository of the wisdom of God to be known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.
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