“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Isaiah 2:2-3

“The Body Of Christ”

By Jay H. Graham

From the Chapel Glen Church of Christ Bulletin

I was attracted to the Lord’s church years ago for many reasons. One of the reasons was its unique nature. I was fascinated with the church. To be sure this understanding did not come to me in a single moment, but over the years I have grown very appreciative of the fact that the churches of Christ are not one body among many. The Lord’s church is the one unique organization that the Lord has ordained as the only “school of the soul”. It is not a denomination among others. It is the one and only body of Christ that houses its christians as the one household of God. Going along with this thought I have listed the following scriptures as evidence of how special the Lord’s church truly is. And these are just a few verses that speak to the unique nature of this glorious body.

Hebrews 11:13-16 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

Hebrews 12:22-24 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel."

Ephesians 2:19-22 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Ephesians 1:22-23 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Acts 2:46-47 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Ephesians 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Many of the Lord's saints, who lived before and during the life of Christ looked for such a country. We as christians, new testament children of the Most High God, have been blessed to have found and been a part of such a country, the church of Christ, Mt Zion, the Heavenly Jerusalem. The church that began in Acts chapter 2:. The one the new christians were added to on that first day of its formation! What a marvelous and precious body we are part of.

May we always hold this glorious body in our hearts. May we, as the Lord’s people, cherish it. And may we always participate with it as it helps us walk in a manner worthy of its Founder and Maker, Jesus Christ. May His name be praised!