So often I run into people who believe in God, but not in the church. There seems to be news every year about a church leader who has messed up, and not been true to the calling. The church is not a building or institution, it is the people, the family of God. We will mess up, but we also need to conduct ourselves in a worthy manner.
The church is the foundation of God’s truth in this world full of false teaching. In a world that teaches selfishness, the church teaches serving in Christ as the path of being fulfilled. In a world that promotes wealth as success, we follow Christ and give away more and more. We are making the bold claim – this is God’s way, and it works better, bringing us the true fulfillment and joy that can only be found in Him.
To be a Christian is not just to know something about Christ our pray a prayer. It is to live that prayer, Jesus is Savior and Lord. We follow Him with our lives, and as the church, as broken but growing people in Christ, we are the pillar of His truth in a wayward world.
14I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, 15so 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.
16Without question, this is the great mystery of our faithf:
Christg was revealed in a human body
and vindicated by the Spirit.h
He was seen by angels
and announced to the nations.
He was believed in throughout the world
and taken to heaven in glory.
1Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. 2These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.a
3They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth. 4Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. 5For we know it is made acceptableb by the word of God and prayer.
