MONDAY, APRIL 3
1 Corinthians 1:1-3
Acts 20:28

"Unto the church of God
which is at Corinth…"

THE LOCAL CHURCH WITNESS

The term "church" is used in two ways in the Bible. Firstly, it can refer to the universal church. The universal church refers to "the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the Head…" (WCF 25:1). The universal church thus has no address affixed to it and consists of only true believers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

However, in 1 Corinthians 1:2, the term "church" is used in reference to the local church. The local church "consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion; and of their children: and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, the house and family of God, out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation" (WCF 25:2). The local church thus has an address affixed to it, and consists of true and false believers. Consequently, it is also subjected "both to mixture and error" as can be seen in the case of the Corinthian church.

Paul reminded the Corinthian church that it is "the church of God" (1 Cor 1:2). As the church of God, she was purchased by the blood of Christ and belongs wholly unto Him (Acts 20:28). She was meant to be the visible witness of Christ, to bear the name of Christ in the locality of Corinth, and shine the gospel light to the rest of the world. Her leaders were also responsible for feeding and protecting the flock of God. Sadly, due to the spiritual immaturity of the Corinthian church, her witness of Christ was corrupted. The Corinthian church might have grown in numbers over the years, but her light for Christ still shone dim!

Churches today are no different. When a church forgets that she is supposed to be dedicated to God and His Word, she is following in the footsteps of the Corinthian church. May the Lord grant us churches that are faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ!

THOUGHT: Christ is the Head of the Church.
PRAYER: Lord, preserve the faithful witness of Thy church.