By Oscar Pimentel.
THE EXCLUSIVE BODY OF CHRIST
The Bible gives conclusive evidence that the divine Church Jesus organized is exclusive and that He left it here to fulfill the Great Commission. “For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who LEFT HIS HOUSE, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch” (Mark 13:34). Christ has taken His far journey back to heaven where He now sits at the right hand of the Father and, here on this earth, He has left His ONE house—not houses, not a subdivision of houses, but “HIS HOUSE!”
When we say the Church is exclusive, we mean that among the varied Christian church groups of the world today, there is one that is the true Church of God to the exclusion of all others. The New Testament speaks of only one true Church and not many churches. When it does mention churches, it refers to local bodies or local churches situated in different localities but never to an autonomous “church” with its own system of government, practices, and beliefs separate from the divine institution Jesus Christ established.
The apostle Paul stated, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all…” (Eph. 4:4-6). That’s a whole lot of ONE. Perhaps Jesus is trying to tell us something about this ONE business. Elsewhere, Paul wrote that we are “many members, yet but one body” (1 Cor. 12:20), and Christ “is the head of the body, the church” (Col. 1:18). There is only one Head, Jesus Christ, and only one Body, The Church of God. Christ is not going to become the Head, He is the Head now! Similarly, the Church is not going to become the Body, it is the Body now!
The Body of Christ is not the same as the kingdom of God. While these two entities are interdependent, it is inaccurate to believe they are the same, because the Body of Christ is visible whereas the kingdom of God is not. The Church of God is a visible entity and is comprised of flesh and blood bodies. When Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid” (Matt. 5:14), we understand that the Church can be physically seen. Its members have experienced the power of the kingdom of God that brings righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, and this group of Christian men and women have united themselves in a commitment to total obedience and faithfulness to Christ (solemnized by a membership covenant administered by the proper authority).
One is born into the invisible kingdom. Jesus taught that “…The kingdom of God cometh not with observation… the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20, 21), pointing out its invisible nature, but one becomes a member of God’s visible Church by accepting the Church covenant. Let it be clearly understood that all born-again people are part of the kingdom of God whether they are members of The Church of God or not. When a man or woman has been biblically born-again, through the invisible experience of the new birth, they are born into the kingdom of God. However, that experience of salvation is a separate act from becoming a member of God’s visible Church. One becomes a member of the Church in much the same way a man and woman are joined in marriage, that is, the two present themselves before the proper authority and they make a vow or covenant. It is that vow or covenant that makes them husband and wife, placing them into a one-flesh union of marriage. Likewise, we present ourselves before the proper Church authority and take a sacred and binding covenant to become members of the one Body of Christ, The Church of God.
Those of us who have been added to the Body of Christ by covenant in the presence of God and witnesses understand and accept, by the revelation of God, that we are the true Church spoken of in the New Testament, and it has been identified by both the witness of the Holy Ghost and overwhelming scriptural affirmation. By these things and many other undeniable truths, we affirm that we are The Church of God as recorded in 1 Corinthians 1:2 and Acts 20:28, “which he hath purchased with his own blood,” and that this is the Body of Christ, not going to be, but IS!
By this, we do not mean that our born-again Christian brothers in the denominational world are not welcome to come or that they are excluded from coming and joining themselves to God and His Church in a perpetual covenant. Rather, we prayerfully await the fulfillment of God’s prophecy that “he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad” (John 11:52) into His Church. It was Christ who prayed, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us… I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one…” (John 17:21, 23). His prayer will not go unanswered.
Under Holy Ghost inspiration, Solomon wrote: “There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number” (Song of Sol. 6:8), typifying the multitude of Christian organizations found throughout the world today, and in Proverbs 31:29, he commends them by saying, “Many daughters have done virtuously,” yet, in reference to the Bride of Christ, he says, “but thou excellest them all.” “My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her…” (Song of Sol. 6:9). When Jesus said, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” (John 10:16), the “fold” was in reference to the one true Church He said He would “build” (Matt. 16:18), and that He established prior to the Day of Pentecost (Mark 3:13-15).
It is into His “fold” or Church that He will gather the entire flock of God’s true sheep that are scattered throughout the denominational world in these last days. Paul further emphasizes this truth when he writes, “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him” (Eph. 1:10). They are not the Church. They are not presently in the Church. However, they are kingdom saints washed by the blood of the Lamb and it is into The Church of God that they will all be gathered.
There is no biblical support for the idea that God’s Church is comprised of all Christian “churches” around the world. Therefore, we do not teach or subscribe to the notion that there will be a unification or reunification of God’s one Church (which would indicate that the Church is currently splintered into many groups among the vast labyrinth of denominationalism). No, the Bible doesn’t teach this. The Church was ONE when Christ established it, it was ONE all throughout the book of Acts, it was ONE when it fell into apostasy, it was ONE when it came out of darkness, and it is ONE today!
While we do not believe or teach of a reunification of the Church, we do find in Scripture, vast evidence that there will be an inflow or ingathering of all of God’s true sheep into His true Church prior to the Rapture. “They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward [Zion has in its meaning, The Church of God], saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant [this is the Church covenant by which one becomes a member of the Body of Christ] that shall not be forgotten. My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill [various church organizations], they have forgotten their restingplace” (Jer. 50:5, 6). Their “restingplace” is God’s resting place, Zion, which He has chosen. (See Psalm 132:13, 14.) God Himself will bring them to that resting place.
Our pioneering Church forefathers were shown by the Spirit of God and the Word that she is The Church of God—not going to be in some distant future but is The Church of God right now. She is one. She is exclusive. She is already organized and functioning as the Body of Christ and she is preparing for the second coming of her Head and Founder, Jesus Christ. She is making herself ready to be found without any spot, wrinkle, or blemish.
RECOGNIZE HIS GOODNESS
I cannot think of a better or more appropriate way to enter the next part of the Address than by referring to Psalm 100:3-5. “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good….” [Brother Pimentel then read from a list of testimonies]
“The Spirit of the Lord filled the services and souls were saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost, and some received healing! Three were baptized in water, and three joined the Church by covenant. Took in six members today. [When asked] “Who here needs healing tonight?” Almost every hand went up. All joined together in prayer. By the end, many had been delivered. Eleven testifying that they had been healed as the Holy Ghost fell and placed His approval on this beautiful time of worship! The saints prayed fervently and sought God with tears. Some shouted and danced in the Spirit. Sincere seekers were saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost, and received divine healing!
The very cold temperatures within the block walls and open windows did not hinder the moving of the Holy Ghost! Testimonies of salvation, baptism with the Holy Ghost, and healings! Many who attended were sick [and] were anointed with oil as prayer was given for healing. The Lord heard and answered prayer as testimonies of God’s healing touch were shared. One was saved, one was baptized with the Holy Ghost, and 11 received their calling into the ministry. Four saved, four sanctified, and four filled with the Holy Ghost. Throughout Sunday School we could literally feel His sweet presence [and] the Lord manifested Himself in a marvelous way during the message as the congregation responded with shouts and praises. The Holy Ghost began to manifest powerfully. Many were crying their hearts out. One young man fell to the ground face-first without a single scratch or bruise on his body. Others shouted and danced in the Spirit, while many kept crying to the Lord. Everything seemed to quiet down when suddenly I opened my eyes, and a WHITE SMOKE started descending upon the entire congregation. The presence of God was so powerful [and] I could hear others shouting and crying. After a long time under His presence, the service ended and many testified that they had been sanctified. Others reconciled with the Lord. As I stepped down from the pulpit, a young boy began manifesting an evil spirit. This young boy was delivered and leaped up, confessing that Jesus had set him free! We had 12 baptized, several saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost.
This week I went with my wife to a doctor’s consultation. He told her [that] everything is fine and there is no threat of losing the baby. He had done a thorough search and what other doctors had found 15 days prior, had disappeared. What I’m saying is that she was divinely healed! The Holy Ghost was present in a most powerful measure. Seven souls stood in testimony of the saving grace of Jesus on Friday night. The entire weekend, souls were saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost, and divinely healed! There was wave after wave of the presence of God as all worshipped the Lord and basked in His presence at the preaching of the liberating power in the truth of His Word! At every opportunity, by phone or in person, I had spoken to [my brother] and shared the message of salvation and he had not wanted to accept the Lord. This past Wednesday, he came to service. The service was like a tiny heaven. The Holy Ghost was present in a great way. While the message was going on, the Lord was dealing with his heart, and when I called on him by name and asked, “Do you desire to receive Christ as your only and exclusive Saviour?” This time, he did not resist, and he accepted the Lord! Many youth gave their lives to the Lord and accepted Him as their personal Lord and Saviour. Young people came with great struggles and burdens, but God took away all the weight and gave them peace that only He can give. We were able to see broken young people in the presence of the Lord and even children worshipping God with great enthusiasm. Results of altar ministry: 18 converted; 29 sanctified; and 10 divine healings. Absolutely incredible Youth Convention. Start to finish. Powerful services. God is moving. Seven saved, four sanctified, one filled with the Holy Ghost, and 11 baptized in water! The Holy Ghost moved and blessed in every service. Many came forth to be anointed and prayed for and were visibly touched by the Lord.
A testimony was given by one of divine healing and after returning home and going to a specialist, the doctor reported, “There is nothing wrong with you!” God’s healing was confirmed! Praise God! He is still in the healing business! Seventeen saved and six sanctified! Great liberty was felt in delivering the Word of God. The congregation prayed, shouted, sang, spoke in tongues, played their instruments, marched, danced in the Spirit of God, and one joined the Church! Praise God!
Holy Ghost-filled Rally services! Souls being saved, sanctified, baptized with the Holy Ghost, healed, and delivered! Had a glorious Convention. Four saved, one sanctified, one joined [the] Church! Are these testimonies of days gone by? Are they from old White Wing Messenger publications of the past? No, these represent testimonies shared in The Evening Light every month since September of last year through July of this year, and a few are text messages received steadily during that same span of time. I felt it good to share them in this Address lest the enemy of our souls should whisper in our ears that God is not working in His Church.
Of course, these represent only a small number of the many things God is doing in different places of the world within the Church. Every testimony of His blessings doesn’t make it into The Evening Light, nor does it reach our ears. However, that doesn’t mean the needs of people who are sincerely praying aren’t being answered by God in the Church. They may not be happening in your local church regularly, but that doesn’t mean they are not going on regularly in the Church as a whole.
So, I take a moment to recognize God’s goodness and thank Him for His blessings upon the Church this past year. We owe Him a great deal of gratitude. The Lord has been good to us, and He is working in our midst. This is not to say we don’t have a lot of work to do in our pursuit of perfection. I realize the Church isn’t fully experiencing the glory and power of God, nor is she fully living in all His blessings, but don’t let that stop you from praising Him for what He has done. The Church will get to where she is going! We know this because the Bible says she will be sanctified, cleansed, washed with the water by the Word, and that Christ will “present it to himself a glorious church” (Eph. 5:27).
In our pursuit of perfection, we cannot become selfish. We must be careful not to despise “the day of small things” (Zech. 4:10). Yes, we desire and need God’s best blessings—greater miracles, signs, and wonders—but we should recognize that He is working with us. Remember, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights…” (James 1:17). It becomes easy to frequently put our eyes on the present state of the Church, or the Nation/Region/State or local church where we attend, and bypass the dewdrops of God’s mercy falling upon the whole Church, thereby failing to give Him the glory and honor He is due.
Is one person being saved really a small thing? Who else can save but Jesus Christ our Lord? He gave His blood and body, and when just one sinner repents there is “joy in the presence of the angels of God” (Luke 15:10). Shall we then not rejoice? Who can sanctify wholly? None but He who “suffered without the gate” (Heb. 13:12, 13). Who else can baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire? John the Baptist said of Jesus, “he that cometh after me is mightier than I… he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire” (Matt. 3:11). Who has healed our sicknesses? It is Jesus, the Son of the Living God who wore the stripes with which “we are healed” (Isa. 53:5)! There is nothing small or insignificant about these things. Nobody else could do for us what Christ alone has done for us this year!
Didn’t He hear your prayers this year? Didn’t He comfort you? Didn’t He strengthen you? Didn’t He heal you from some dreaded affliction during these last 11 months? Didn’t He help you, preacher, with inspiration and direction for the message, or have you believed you did it all by yourself? Didn’t He help you to forgive? Didn’t He help you resolve some conflict? Didn’t He turn your mourning into joy? Didn’t He supply your need? Didn’t He?! Didn’t He?! Didn’t He?!
(to be continued)