Answer: The church are the faithful followers of Christ who are raised to glory, honor and immortality, eternal life, and share with Christ in spiritual rulership over Christ’s earthly kingdom. God “gave Him [Jesus] as head over all things to the church, (23) which is His body.” (Eph. 1:22,23 NASB) Paul adds in Eph. 5:22,25-27 (NASB):
“For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. … (25) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, (26) so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, (27) that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”
The apostle Paul calls them “the general assembly and church of the firstborn [of the dead].” (Heb. 12:23 NASB) “They [church] will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:6 NASB) As part of Christ’s Melchizadek priesthood, they will help Israel and mankind walk up the “Highway of Holiness” back to mental, moral and physical perfection, sonship with God and everlasting life. (Isa. 35:8; Heb. 7:11)
As kings they will help Christ rule over his earthly kingdom and judge its inhabitants. Jesus said in Matt. 19:28 (NASB): “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Paul adds in 1 Cor. 6:2,3 (NASB): Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? … (3) Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?”
To earn this exalted role, they must “present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. (2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom 12:1,2 NASB)
They must be buried by baptism into Christ’s death, conformed to [character] image of God’s dear son and be faithful unto death. (Rom. 6:3,4; 8:29; Rev. 2:10) They must be away the mind, desires and ambitions of the flesh and put on the mind of Christ. (Eph. 4:22-24; Phil. 2:5) “Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ.” (Eph. 4:15 NASB)
“If you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (2) Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (3) For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (4) When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” (Col 3:1-4 NASB)
For additional information, please see the related booklets and videos shown below:
Booklet The Church |
Video Bringing Life and Immortality to Light |
Video Buried With Him in Baptism |
Booklet Born of the Spirit |
Video Elect According to the Foreknowledge of God |
Video Can a Man Be Justified with God? |
Booklet The Grace of Jehovah |
Video The Sarah Feature of the Abrahamic Covenant |
Video Doctrine of Character Development |
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