It is so encouraging to read the first few verses in 1 Corinthians chapter 1 – right at the beginning of his epistle, Paul paints a wonderful picture of a genuine church in the focus of God’s economy, in the focus of the Lord’s recovery.
The church is composed of the called saints (1 Cor. 1:2) – there is no other name or denomination, but the ones called out of the satanic world, the ones who are being continually sanctified!
Hallelujah, we are the saints – we do not belong to the world but to the church, and we are being sanctified in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Five qualifications of a genuine church
In 1 Cor. 1:2 we see five qualifications of a genuine church.
First of all, a genuine church is the church of God – it doesn’t belong to anyone else. Secondly, a genuine church is the church in a certain locality – no other name, no other title, just “the church which is in Corinth”. Thirdly, a genuine church is sanctified in Christ – the church comes from Christ and is in Christ who sanctifies it.
Fourthly, a genuine church is composed of the called saints – the church is composed of the believers who are called out and now are being sanctified. Fifth, a genuine church is related with all the saints who call upon the name of the Lord in every place around the globe.
It is very interesting, looking at the situation of the church today and comparing it with what Paul says here concerning a genuine church – there’s no requirement to be baptized by immersion, to speak in tongues, to keep the Sabbath, etc.
No, the church is related to ALL THOSE who call on the name of the Lord – the saints in the past, those today, and those coming after us! A genuine church is related with all the saints everywhere, being open for fellowship and welcoming all believers.
Being related with all the saints keeps the church from being sectarian, divisive, or isolated. What a beautiful picture of a genuine church – in one single verse!
A genuine church under the dispensing of grace
Another qualification of a genuine church, as seen in 1 Cor. 1:3, is that the church is under the dispensing of grace. Grace is God in Christ as the Spirit for our enjoyment to be our life, life-supply, and our everything.
Grace and peace are being continually dispensed from God the Father, from the Lord Jesus Christ, and from the Holy Spirit – the entire divine Trinity flows continually to dispense grace into the church. Today all we do in a genuine local church is enjoy grace – we are rich in the enjoyment of Christ, genuinely rich in the Triune God! Just enjoy Him!
Grace is all that we need for us to live the Christian life and the church life, and in the church life we are under the dispensing of grace all the time.
We shouldn’t look at our condition or at the situation around us – the condition may be troubled and messy, but the base of the local church is grace!
We are under grace and we are upon grace – we are surrounded by grace, we are continually supplied by the enjoyment of the Triune God! The grace is given not based on our spirituality or condition – but freely, and grace can even be SEEN in the church meetings!
Grace upon grace to become His fullness
When the Lord Jesus came, we received of His fullness and grace upon grace (John 1:16). Even though in the church life there may be some “messy situations” and some “storms” or “troubles” may come, there is wave upon wave of grace coming to supply all the saints.
In a way, the more storms and troubles there are in a genuine church, the more grace there is there. The Triune God dispenses Himself in His divine Trinity as grace and peace to us – we receive grace, we are at peace, and we praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
One particular aspect I was encouraged with is that a genuine church accepts and welcomes everyone who calls on the name of the Lord – who is THEIRS and OURS!
Jesus Christ belongs to and is in all the believers, and He is our all-inclusive portion – we are those who call on the name of the Lord in every place! Oh, Lord Jesus! We flee youthful lusts and pursue with those who call on the name of the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Tim. 2:22).
Wherever we are – at home, at work, cooking in the kitchen, walking on the street, shopping, driving, traveling, resting, working, playing sports, jogging, etc – we CALL on the name of the Lord, who is OURS!
Lord Jesus, we love You! We love to enjoy You as grace being dispensed into us! You are our all-inclusive supply to be everything to us. Thank You for making us the church – the gathering of the called-out ones, those who are being sanctified daily. Lord, keep us under the divine dispensing of grace every day. Keep us calling on Your name to receive all that You are into us! We are those who call upon Your name in every place – together with those who from a pure heart taste your grace!
References and Further Reading
- Sharing inspired by portions in the message given by brother Dick Taylor and, A Genuine Church (pages. 9-15), as quoted in the Holy Word for Morning Revival on, The Focus of the Lord’s Recovery, week 6;
- Hymns on this topic:
# How we love the glorious name – the name of Jesus! (Hymns #1086)
# The Triune God has now become our all – how wonderful, how glorious! (Hymn #1113)
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