The Church Built By Jesus Christ In The New testament

The Church Built By Jesus Christ In The New testament - Lesson 7

English

🇵🇭 Tagalog

Lesson 7: The Destination of the Church

Key Passages: Ephesians 5:23, 27

Verse 23 — “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.”

Verse 27 — “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

Introduction

What is the end of the church's journey? What awaits the faithful body of Christ? While the world views the church as a temporary religious institution, the Bible reveals a far more glorious destiny: the church will be presented to Christ, “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing;” (Ephesians 5:27) —as a holy bride—to dwell with Him forever. This final lesson unveils the eternal destination of the church and confirms that only those who remain in the body of Christ will share in His everlasting glory.

Historical Context

Paul's epistle to the Ephesians was written to remind the saints of their high calling in Christ and to exhort them to live worthy of that calling. In chapter 5, Paul draws a powerful parallel between marriage and the relationship of Christ and the church. Christ loved the church, gave Himself for it, sanctified it, and will one day present it to Himself, glorious and without blemish.

Biblical Context

The New Testament consistently presents the church as:

The body of the saved — Acts 2:47; Eph. 5:23
The bride of Christ — Rev. 19:7–8; 2 Cor. 11:2
The spiritual temple — 1 Pet. 2:5; Eph. 2:21
The family of God — Eph. 2:19; 1 Tim. 3:15

These images all point to the intimate, covenant relationship between Christ and the church. And this relationship is not just for time—it is eternal.

Greek Exegesis: “Present” (Eph. 5:27)

Greek: παραστήσῃ (parastēsē) — aorist active subjunctive of παρίστημι

Meaning: to cause to stand beside, to present formally (like a bride to the groom).
Used also in Colossians 1:28 — “present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

Commentary:

This is not a general gathering of all religious people—it is Christ personally presenting His church, now glorified and perfected, as His own. The purity of this church is not based on human achievement, but on her continued obedience to the truth and cleansing by His blood (Eph. 5:26).

Full Scripture Cross-Referencing

John 14:2–3 — “I go to prepare a place for you… I will come again, and receive you unto myself…”
1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 — The faithful will be caught up “to meet the Lord in the air.”
Revelation 21:2 — “Prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

Doctrinal Note:

The saved are not a scattered group across denominations. They are the church, the bride, the body. It is this group, and no other, that Christ will return for.

Doctrinal Significance & Application

Christ is the Saviour of the body—only those in the church are saved (Eph. 5:23).
The glorious church Christ will receive is without spot—meaning, without doctrinal corruption or compromise.
The goal is not just to worship, but to be ready for His return.

Application Today:

Many view the church as optional, irrelevant, or outdated. But to Christ, it is His bride, His body, His prized possession. The question is not, “Do you attend church?” but “Are you in the church that Jesus will receive?”

Refutation of False Doctrines

✘False View #1: All sincere believers, regardless of church, will be saved.

📖 Refuted by: Acts 2:47; Eph. 5:23; 1 Cor. 12:13

✞Truth: Salvation is in Christ, and being in Christ means being in His body, the church.

✘False View #2: The church is irrelevant; what matters is your personal relationship with God.

📖 Refuted by: Eph. 3:21; 1 Tim. 3:15

✞Truth: One cannot have a “relationship with Christ” while rejecting His body.

✘False View #3: The church is made up of all denominations.

📖 Refuted by: 1 Cor. 1:10–13; John 17:21

✞Truth: Christ is not divided. His church is one, not many. Denominationalism is division, not unity.

Conclusion and Exhortation

The church began in the mind of God before the world was made (Eph. 3:10–11). It was built by Christ, purchased with His blood, sustained by the Spirit, and sanctified by the Word. And soon—Christ will return to receive His church, spotless, faithful, glorious.

Be in it. Stay in it. Glorify God through it. For when the trumpet sounds and the Lord returns, only the saved—the church—will be caught up in glory. Make your calling and election sure.

“To him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” — Ephesians 3:21

Readers may share, print, teach, or repost these articles if unaltered, intent preserved, not sold or used commercially, and with a clear link back to this blog.

#ChurchOfChrist #BiblicalChurch #BrideOfChrist #ChurchDestiny #NewTestamentChurch #BibleTruth #KJVOnly #SoundDoctrine #EndTimeTruth #HeavenlyGlory #IglesiaNiCristo #TamangIglesia #KasintahanNiCristo #PatutunguhanNgIglesia #Kaluwalhatian #Efeso521 #BibliaLamang #KatotohananSaBiblia

🔙 Back to Table of Contents

Aralin 7: Ang Patutunguhan ng Iglesia

Talata: Efeso 5:23, 27

Talata 23 — “Sapagka't ang lalake ay pangulo ng kaniyang asawa, gaya naman ni Cristo na pangulo ng iglesia, na siya rin ang tagapagligtas ng katawan.”

Talata 27 — “Upang ang iglesia ay maiharap niya sa kaniyang sarili na maluwalhati, na walang dungis ni kulubot man, o anomang gayong bagay; kundi ito'y nararapat maging banal at walang kapintasan.”

Panimula

Ano ang hangganan ng paglalakbay ng iglesia? Ano ang naghihintay sa tapat na nasa katawan ni Cristo? Habang ang mundo ay tumitingin sa iglesia bilang pansamantalang relihiyosong samahan, ang Biblia ay nagpapahayag ng higit na maluwalhating katotohanan: ang iglesia ay ihaharap kay Cristo, pinapaging-banal, “maluwalhati, na walang dungis o kulubot o anomang gayong bagay;” (Efeso 5:27)—bilang banal na kasintahan—upang manahan na kasama Niya magpakailanman. Ang panghuling araling ito ay naglalantad ng walang hanggang hantungan ng iglesia at pinatutunayan na tanging ang mga nanatili sa katawan ni Cristo ang magtatamo ng kaluwalhatiang iyon.

Konteksto Ayon sa Kasaysayan

Ang sulat ni Pablo sa mga taga-Efeso ay isinulat upang ipaalala sa mga alagad ang kanilang banal na pagkatawag kay Cristo at hikayatin silang lumakad na karapat-dapat dito. Sa kabanata 5, inihalintulad ni Pablo sa “pag-aasawa” ang relasyon ni Cristo at ng iglesia. Inibig ni Cristo ang iglesia, ibinigay ang Kaniyang sarili para rito, nilinis ito, at darating ang panahon na ihaharap Niya ito sa Kaniyang sarili, maluwalhati at walang dungis.

Kontekstong Biblikal

Ang Bagong Tipan ay laging inilalarawan ang iglesia bilang:

Katawan ng mga iniligtas — Gawa 2:47; Efeso 5:23
Kasintahan ni Cristo — Apoc. 19:7–8; 2 Cor. 11:2
Templo ng Dios — 1 Pedro 2:5; Efeso 2:21
Pamilya ng Dios — Efeso 2:19; 1 Tim. 3:15

Ang lahat ng larawang ito ay nagpapakita ng malapit at tipanang ugnayan sa pagitan ni Cristo at ng iglesia. At ang ugnayang ito ay hindi pansamantala kundi walang hanggan.

Pag-aaral ng Salitang Griyego na Ginamit: “Iharap” (Efeso 5:27)

Griyego: παραστήσῃ (parastēsē) — anyong aorist, aktibo, subjunctive ng παρίστημι

Kahulugan: ilagay sa tabi, iharap ng pormal (tulad ng ikakasal na babae sa kanyang lalake).
Ginamit din sa Colosas 1:28 — “maiharap ang bawa't tao na sakdal kay Cristo Jesus.”

Tandaan:

Ito ay hindi pagtitipon ng lahat ng relihiyosong tao—ito ay personal na pagharap ni Cristo sa Kaniyang iglesia, na ngayo'y niluwalhati at ginawang sakdal. Ang kadalisayan ng iglesia ay hindi bunga ng sariling gawa kundi ng tuloy-tuloy na pagtalima sa katotohanan at pagkalinis sa pamamagitan ng Kaniyang dugo (Efeso 5:26).

Buong Pagpapatibay mula sa Kasulatan

Juan 14:2–3 — “...ako'y paroroon upang kayo'y ipaghanda ng dakong kalalagyan... ako'y paririto uli, at kayo'y tatanggapin ko sa aking sarili...”
1 Tesalonica 4:16–17 — Ang mga tapat ay sasalubungin ang Panginoon sa hangin.
Apocalipsis 21:2 — “...nahandang gaya ng isang kasintahang babae na nagagayakan dahil sa kaniyang lalake.”

Tandaan:

Ang mga iniligtas ay hindi mula sa mga hiwa-hiwalay na mga denominasyon ng tao. Sila ay ang iglesia na itinayo ng ating Panginoong Jesuscristo, ang kasintahan, ang katawan. Ito ang grupong ililigtas ni Cristo—at wala nang iba.

Makabuluhang Aplikasyon ng Doctrina:

Si Cristo ang Tagapagligtas ng katawan—samakatuwid, tanging ang mga nasa iglesia Niya lamang ang ligtas (Efeso 5:23).
Ang maluwalhating iglesia na tatanggapin ni Cristo ay walang dungis—ibig sabihin, walang hidwang doktrina o kompromiso.
Ang layunin ay hindi lamang pagsamba, kundi maihanda ang sarili sa Kaniyang pagbabalik.

Sa Kasalukuyan:

Marami ang tinitingnan ang iglesia na di-kailangan, hindi mahalaga, o lipas na. Ngunit kay Cristo, ito ay Kaniyang kasintahan, katawan, kayamanang espirituwal. Ang tanong ay hindi lang “Sumasamba ka ba?” kundi “Nasa iglesia ka ba na tatanggapin ni Cristo?”

Pagpapabulaan sa mga Maling Aral

✘Maling Pananaw #1: Lahat ng tapat na mananampalataya, anuman ang iglesia, ay maliligtas.

📖 Pinabubulaanan ng Kasulatan: Gawa 2:47; Ef. 5:23; 1 Cor. 12:13

✞Katotohanan: Kaligtasan ay nasa kay Cristo, at ang pagiging kay Cristo ay nangangahulugang nasa Kaniyang katawan—ang iglesia.

✘Maling Paniniwala #2: Hindi mahalaga ang iglesia; mahalaga ang personal na relasyon sa Dios.

📖 Pinabubulaanan ng Kasulatan: Ef. 3:21; 1 Tim. 3:15

✞Katotohanan: Hindi maaaring may “relasyon kay Cristo” habang tinatanggihan ang Kaniyang katawan.

✘Maling Pananaw #3: Ang iglesia ay binubuo ng lahat ng denominasyon.

📖 Pinabubulaanan ng Kasulatan: 1 Cor. 1:10–13; Juan 17:21

✞Katotohanan: Si Cristo ay hindi nahahati. Ang Kaniyang iglesia ay iisa, hindi marami. Ang denominasyonalismo ay pagkakabaha-bahagi, hindi pagkakaisa.

Konklusyon at Panawagan

Ang iglesia ay nagsimula sa isipan ng Dios bago pa nilikha ang sanlibutan (Ef. 3:10–11). Ito'y itinayo ni Cristo, binili sa pamamagitan ng Kaniyang dugo, pinalakas ng Espiritu, at pinabanal ng Kaniyang salita. At malapit na—si Cristo ay babalik upang tanggapin ang Kaniyang iglesia na walang dungis, tapat, at maluwalhati.

Nasa loob ka ba? Nanatili ka ba? Ipinamumuhay mo ba ang pagiging bahagi mo sa iglesia? Sapagka’t sa pagbalik ng Panginoon, tanging ang iglesia ang dadalhin Niya sa kaluwalhatian. Maging tapat. Maging handa. Maging banal.

“Ay sumakaniya nawa ang kaluwalhatian sa iglesia at kay Cristo Jesus sa buong panahon magpakailan man. Siya nawa.” — Efeso 3:21

Maaaring ibahagi, i-print, ipangaral, o i-repost ang mga artikulo dito kung hindi ito babaguhin, panananatilihin ang tema ng layunin, hindi ipagbibili o gagamitin para kumita, at may malinaw na link pabalik sa blog na ito.

🔙 Back to Table of Contents

Declaring All the Counsel of God

Search This Blog