The Bible, the Spirit of Prophecy, and the Church

Part Three

Chapter 10—The Nature of the Church of Christ

The church of God on earth is the object of His most tender solicitude and deepest regard. The apostle to the Gentiles beautifully expressed this when, in writing to the church at Ephesus, he reminded them that “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” Ephesians 5:25. BSPC 139.16

No wonder God loves and cherishes His church; it cost something: it meant paying an infinite price, for He “gave himself for it.” We read also of “the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Acts 20:28. BSPC 139.17

The word rendered “cherished” is used in but one other place in the New Testament, and in this Paul expresses himself in affectionate terms as he writes to his children in the faith. BSPC 139.18

“In our relations to you we showed ourselves as gentle as a mother is when she tenderly nurses her own children.” 1 Thessalonians 2:7, Weymouth. BSPC 139.19

Even in Old Testament days Jehovah revealed Himself to His people, and showed that He loved them with an “everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31:3.) It was manifested over and over again in all His dealings with them. They were reminded of His deep regard for them even in the garments of the high priest. On his heart he carried their names as he went in before the Lord. Yes, the congregation of His saints here below is something for which God has a deep and abiding love. BSPC 139.20

“Nothing else in this world is so dear to God as His church. Nothing is guarded by Him with such jealous care. Nothing so offends God as an act that injures the influence of those who are doing His service.”Testimonies for the Church 6:42. BSPC 139.21

We need ever to bear in mind that God is jealous of His church. It is very precious in His sight; for it He has an infinite love. BSPC 139.22

“The church is very precious in God’s sight. He values it, not for its external advantages, but for the sincere piety which distinguishes it from the world. He estimates it according to the growth of the members in the knowledge of Christ, according to their progress in spiritual experience.”—Christ’s Object Lessons, 298. BSPC 141.1

Whatever may happen to the church in this vale of tears, God will never forsake her. She may be persecuted, her members may be confined to the dungeon, they may suffer untold hardships, they may even be put to death for the truth’s sake, but come what may, God will never leave or forsake His people. BSPC 141.2

“Through the centuries of persecution, conflict, and darkness, God has sustained His church. Not one cloud has fallen upon it that He has not prepared for; not one opposing force has risen to counter work His work, that He has not foreseen. All has taken place as He predicted. He has not left His church forsaken.”—The Acts of the Apostles, 11, 12. BSPC 141.3

One of the most encouraging and comforting promises God has given to His church is found in Hebrews 13:5. There the Lord assures His people, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” BSPC 141.4

Let us seek to catch the inspiration of the truth that is here presented. The two words “leave” and “forsake” are important. The one means “to neglect to care for” (1 Samuel 9:5), “to cease from,” “to relax in vigilance”; the other, “to leave behind” (Isaiah 1:9), “to let one down,” “to leave in the lurch” (Hebrews 13:5). Moulton and Milligan in their Greek vocabularies of the New Testament tell us that the prevailing idea of the word “forsake” is that of “leaving in the lurch anyone who is in straits.” This our God will never do. Then again notice the negatives, “I will never leave thee” and “I will never forsake thee.” In our English Bible this wording conveys something of the strength and force of this wonderful promise of God. In the Greek text, however, there are added power and cogency. In the first expression, “I will never leave thee,” there are two negatives; in the second expression, “I will never forsake thee,” there are three negatives. Furthermore, God has pledged Himself to the fulfillment of His word. It is not merely “God hath said”; the expression here is intensive, and reads, “God himself hath said.” So we have one of the most wonderful promises of God’s protecting and providential care expressed in these words. We might read the promise, “God himself hath said, I will not leave thee, yea, I will not forsake thee.” No wonder the Spirit of prophecy gives us the following assuring words: BSPC 141.5

“Will Christ, our representative and head, close His heart, or withdraw His hand, or falsify His promise? No; never, never.”—Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 20. BSPC 142.1