THE GATES OF HELL...

The Gates of Hell...         (Matthew 16:18)          August 4, 2003

             Revisited on 4.23.14, 11.25.14, 2.05.15

(This post might be read in conjunction with today's post dealing
  with the subject of  "Walking in the Spirit."  Similar theme)

https://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2012/09/walk-in-spirit-romans-8.html

Just 2 days ago as I was  riding along in  my truck listening to a 
radio  preacher/Bible  teacher,  it  occurred to  me  that  individual
church members and the church, as a body, have something in com-
mon.  Neither is perfect.   It had never occurred  to me  that  either
was perfect, but thinking of both in the same sentence as imperfect
puts issues of the Church of Jesus Christ in a  different  light than I
had previously  considered.  Through the  process of  sanctification,
our Lord has  promised to  perfect  His Church into a perfect Bride.
Through this same process  He has promised to  perfect each  belie-
ver as part of that Church or bride.  At this  present time, however;
the bride and each individual member is anything but perfect.  Why
then, does it shock us,  when we  see the  church  as a  body making
mistakes and even  participating in sinful practices?   Should  we be
surprised when we  find individual church members  lives  failing to
measure up to  the standards expressed in  God’s Word?  Just what
should we expect of the Church, universal, local and individual?

First,  we must be aware that our  assumptions about the life of 
a Child of God and of  the Church of  which he or she is a member,
must  be  reappraised.  We  know our Lord  holds a  standard,  His
Word,  as the criteria we  must use  to measure ourselves.  Since we
are each,  members of His body and  readily  confess  imperfections
in our  behavior  and attitudes,  we must be careful in our appraisal
of others and the Church of  Christ.  (This is not about a denomina-
tional name) As we begin to consider what we should expect of indi-
vidual believers and the Church as a whole our inspection must start 
within.  Jesus did  say something about removing a beam from one’s 
eye before being able to help a brother with his vision.  
                                                                                 (Matthew 7: 1-5)

In the past as I regarded other members of the Church and the
operation of  local assemblies,  the burden seemed  to be on them
to prove something to me.  As I began to look at the organization
and individuals in it through the lens of my own sometimes shabby
life, the burden of proof shifted.  If one individual were to live a life
as did Jesus Christ, what would be the result?  When we realize the
imperfections in the operation of the Church,  local and  universal,
are merely reflections of imperfections each of us may exhibit, we
must put blame where it belongs.  The fault is mine and mine alone.
Since I am typical, no better or worse, of the Children of God as I
see them, there is going to be no change for the better until I begin
to follow Him.  There are no short cuts available to me.  If you or I
were to become fine teachers or ministers of this Gospel of Jesus
Christ it would change nothing.  If we could speak with “tongues of
men and angels...”  it would change nothing.  Things in  the Church
of Jesus Christ will only  improve as you and I exhibit a loving, hum-
ble  spirit  among our  brothers and  sisters within  and the  "world"
without. 

     We become Christ to them as we allow Jesus Christ to  live his 
life through us in a consistent Spirit filled life offering no condem-
nation  for brothers and  sisters who are,  as we are,  imperfect.   I 
admit my  primary failure has  been my  unstated  but firmly  held 
conviction  that my sins  were not as  great as  those  I observed in 
my brothers and sisters within the Body of Christ. (Church)

  What a shame... Until I am willing to forgive others of  their fail-
ures as I  forgive  myself,  there can be no change in my life and I 
cannot  become positive in the church local or  universal.  Admit-
tedly, there are lifestyles that cannot be countenanced among the 
followers of  Christ,  church members.  Fellowship  with members
involved in open sin must be limited  by individual  members and 
at  times the  whole assembly.  This  discipline is  always  redemp-
tive as we recall that each of us have feet of clay.
  “And now abides faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these 
is  love.”   (NKJV)  (Love;  a selfless care and concern of others
that is available only through the indwelling Spirit of God.) 

   Against  this kind of life,  the "Gates of Hell" will  not prevail,
or stand.                                             

 donporter   9.19.12