In Summary: His Work, Our Hope
- The Foundation: Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:18)
- The Power: The Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6)
- The Result: A Bride made ready (Revelation 19:7)
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6
We are not there today, but we can be confident that the last Church will become “a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish,” and I believe this is speaking about us!
We can pursue it now by simply going back to the instruction manual – the Bible! More about how-to, later.
The Glorious Church will not be the work of our hands. Ours is the disaster we see all around us.
But we are His workmanship, the finished work of Christ, who began His “good work” in us at Pentecost and who “will complete” us in the end, made ready for His soon return!
May our Lord Jesus Christ be praised, and may His Church begin to desire to leave our present state to become truly glorious!
Here’s a scripture-based summary of my main bird’s-eye overview points:
- The Church was born in the Spirit and is destined to be glorious.
“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind… And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:2, 4).
“…that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27).
- The Church Age and its completion were a mystery later revealed, especially to Paul.
“Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6).
“For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:12).
“And to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery… which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God…” (Ephesians 3:9).
- Believers are cleansed judicially by Christ’s blood and practically by the Word and Spirit.
“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11b).
“That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:26).
“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you” (John 15:3).
“For the word of God is living and powerful… and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
- Our sanctification is part of Christ’s completed work that frees us from sin’s bondage.
“Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with…” (Romans 6:6).
“For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:13).
- The Church lives in an age of intense spiritual warfare, yet Christ’s promise stands.
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12).
“I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
“Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun… Then another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon…” (Revelation 12:1, 3).
- God intends a mature, unified, Christlike Church at the end of the age.
“…that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:18b).
“Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man…” (Ephesians 4:13).
- The Glorious Church is tied to our blessed hope: Christ’s return and our gathering to Him.
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout… And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17).
“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him…” (1 John 3:2).
- God Himself guarantees the completion of His work in His Church by His Spirit.
“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” Says the LORD of hosts (Zechariah 4:6).
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…” (Ephesians 3:20).
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
