THE IDEAL CHURCH
The ideal Church as revealed in the New Testament, like the New Jerusalem, has twelve gates to it.
1.\tThe Christship of Jesus is the Foundation of the Church. “ Thou art the Christ … Upon this rock will I build My Church” (Matthew 16:18)
2.\tThe Blood of Christ is the Atoning Price of the Church. “ The Church... which He purchased with His own Blood “ (Acts 20:28)
3.\tThe Holy Spirit is the Administration of the Church, hence , He sets “ His gifts, severally as He will .( I Cro 12:28)
4.\tThe ascended Lord is the Head of the Church, His mystical body. (Eph 1:23, 5:23)
5.\tLove is the Motive and Moving Power of the Church, hence the members are to love each other “as Christ loved the Church “ (Eph 5: 2,5,25)
6.\tPrayer is the Life of the Church, the power that brings release, even as it did to imprisoned Peter when prayer was “made without ceasing of the Church unto God” (Act 12:5)
7.\tWorship of the Lord is the Privilege of the Church, and Christ us ever the one who in the midst of the Church leads her in praise to God- (Heb 2:12) and the Church is responsible, as well as privileged, to “come together” to remember the Lord’s death- ( I Cro 9 : 18-26)
8.\tEdification, or building each other up, is the Rule of the Church, hence, the keynote of all ministry in the Church ( I Cro 14: 12,19)
9.\tUnity of action is the Responsibility of the Church, hence, there are to be no schisms in the body, but each member is to tarry for one another, and hold the Head by recognising the members in mutual helps and assemblage. (Eph 2:18-22, 5:16)
10.\tThe truth of God is the Custody of the Church, hence, the Church of God is the pillar and ground of the truth. ( I Tim 3: 15)
11.\tGod Himself is the Centre and Circumference of the Church, hence, the titles by which it is called, and the place where it is found. It is called “ the Church of God,” “the Church in God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ,” “the Church of the Firstborn” ( I Cro 1: 2) ( I Thess 1:1) ( Heb 12: 23)
12.\tThe glory of God is the End and Church, hence, it displays His manifest wisdom and is to be His manifested glory. (Eph 3: 10, 21 ;5: 27)