The invisible church

[mclees8]

Spiritual oneness with Christ


We do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which is not seen. st Cor1: 15

I do not want to  single out Catholics but it is from the catholic community you most here the argument that the church is visible and many times scoff at  those who say that the church is invisible . The fact is that it is both, but of first importance it is the invisible things of God that make us one with Christ.

The book of John declares  the need for spiritual oneness. He told  Nickodemus  that he needed to be born again of the spirit. He said that the spirit is like the wind, and we do not know from where it comes. Because we cannot see Him, he is called the Holy Ghost.  the Lord said to his disciples  15If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. # 

Carnal worshipers  tend to only see and relate to  the outward physical things of religious life. It is the intuitional  Hierarchical leadership, religious vestments. rites an ritual, and  religious architecture. It is grand cathedrals with stained glass windows, or the church on the corner that has a steeple. Its archives and letters of antiquity, historical facts and evidences such as apostolic succession. It is every thing that is carnal thinking and wisdom. Jesus said all this will be destroyed. It is not eternal. He said heaven and earth shall pass away but my words shall never pass away. Why? Remember he said My words are life and they are Spirit. The very word spirit denotes the unseen things of God. That which is of the spirit can never be destroyed.

Catholics often refer to their institutional church and its papacy that they say has been here 2000 years is because they believe Jesus was referring to it as the thing that the gates of hell cannot prevail against. I tell you the truth ,  the Bible says this will all be destroyed because it is of this world and all that is of the world. Its governments and religions  is temporal. Jesus told his disciples of the Temple in Jerusalem not one stone will be left upon the other.  But the true worshipers who are not of this world but are of the spirit shall never die.   

Lets remember what Jesus said to the women at the well. (John Ch 4)When she perceived he was a prophet she ask him because she was a Samaritan



19The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. 20Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth#

Jesus said to her that the hour has come. Lets remember he said the hour has come, that the true worshipers shall not worship on this mountain is nor in Jerusalem but the true worshipers shall worship Him in Spirit and in truth for God desires such to worship Him.

When he said the time has come he was speaking of a new worship that was not of earthly places and things but spiritual in the true nature of God. God now is first and foremost personal for every believer. Paul said, Know ye not the ye are the Temple and the spirit of God now dwells with in you. Our relationship is no longer contingent on the outward things we do but we truly worship God in the spirit.  Every believer who is of the Holy Spirit walks as the third person of the Godhead.     

Jesus came to us with a two fold promise. First and foremost he came to declare himself to man that he was the promised one, the lamb Of God who takes a way the sins of the world. His only requirement for salvation was to believe in Him. Believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shat be saved.

Secondly and no less important he needed to reestablish a relationship with us and God. It was not enough that he just simply suffered the cross for us but that we now could walk in newness of life with Him through the Holy Spirit. Because Jesus said that the Holy spirit (the third invisible person of the Godhead) would be in us, we are now One with Christ. This is for every believer. We now are a living walking part of the Holy Trinity. Think about that. Jesus said that nothing will be with held from us. This is what the early church new and understood. The world and everything in it and of it is temporal but we are now eternal with Christ, not because we go to church and do all the outward things of being religious but we are now one with Christ in the spirit