“… so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15 (NLT).
Jesus bought the church with His blood
The living God has a living church on earth. When Jesus returns, this church will be finished in all its glory. “… that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.” Ephesians 5:27 (NASB).
The church has been bought with Jesus’ precious blood, and belongs to Him for all eternity. The church is God’s household on earth; there is an abundance of life, and it has an eternal glory. Jesus Himself is the entrance to this household. (John 10:9-10.)
Only people who have given up everything to obey and follow Jesus, can be His disciples. Only such people can become one with God’s Word - which is filled with spirit and life. (John 6:63.) On earth they are united with Him in a lowly body, and they will be later united with Him in a glorified body. (Philippians 3:20-21.) They have died to sin together with Him, and they will live with Him. (Romans 6:8; 2 Timothy 2:11.) They suffer with Him, and will be glorified together with Him. (Romans 8:17.)
The church is the body of Christ, and He Himself is the head of the body. (Colossians 1:18.) The life of a disciple is separate from the world and much more glorious than any form of fellowship on a human level. Only as disciples can we be knit together with Him as members in one body and grow up to Him who is the head. (Ephesians 4:11-16.) “If you keep my word, then you are truly my disciples.” John 8:31 (BBE). “If anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” John 8:51. We will have eternal fellowship with the Father, the Son, and with each other.
The glory of the household of God
The household of God was a great mystery in the old covenant. The prophets had seen it from the outside, but the apostles saw the great glory of the household on the inside.
The temple of the old covenant was the greatest glory on earth, but that glory passed away. The “temple” of the new covenant is God’s greatest work of creation on earth today, and that glory will never disappear. (2 Corinthians 3:11.)
Paul writes, “Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness.” 2 Corinthians 3:12 (NRS). The ministry of the new covenant is the ministry of glory, which leads to an immovable inner life in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit through the word of faith.
This household of God is a spiritual household with spiritual people. (1 Peter 2:5.) The Corinthians had all the gifts of the Spirit, but there wasn’t even one spiritual person among them. They were carnal in spite of all their gifts. (1 Corinthians 1:4-7; 1 Corinthians 3:1-3.) They had not given up their “I” and their possessions, and their desire to be “great, greater, greatest”.
Members of the body of Christ
Only a flock of disciples will be knit together with Christ in one Spirit and one mind. They are being united as members in one body, and they grow up in obedience and faithfulness unto Christ who is the head.
Each member of Christ’s body is valuable and should be respected and honoured. Each member must learn—as a disciple—how to behave properly in the household of God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15.) All lying and unrighteousness must be kept outside this household. We must all keep watch over ourselves and over all the people whom the Holy Spirit has placed in our care. (Acts 20:28.) Every member must walk according to the laws of the Spirit, which are written in their hearts.
Paul exhorts us to live a life that is worthy of the calling which we have received. (Ephesians 4:1.) Peter exhorts us to live in the fear of God while we are here on earth. We have been saved by Jesus’ precious blood from our sinful way of life that we have inherited from our fathers. (1 Peter 1:17-19.) We are born again, and as new creations we must live in such a way that we fear to do anything against Christ who has bought us at such a high price.
Representing the church of God
The church is the bride of Christ, the wife of the Lamb (Revelation 21:9) and the New Jerusalem, and we must represent the bride in the most beautiful, glorious clothing that she received in her days on earth where she humbled herself under God’s Hand (Revelations 19:8). Jesus humbled Himself the most, and so He received a name that is above every other name in the eternal glory.
To help us get this glory here on earth, Jesus gave us servants: some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some shepherds, and some teachers, so that we might be fully trained to serve, for the edification of the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-12.) Each member of the body of Christ has an important work to do, and we need to take care of this work with great zeal.
May God open our minds and give us light that we can see how the Day is coming near when everything will be ready for the heavenly wedding.