Title The Glorious Church/Psalm 87:1-7
Contents
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glorious church
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Text: Psalm 87:1-7
After living a flowery life of 33 years, Jesus left this world and left his church. Therefore, the church is the body and alter ego of Jesus Christ, established by the shed blood. Even now, Jesus continues His work through His body, the Church. The church is the pillar and cornerstone of the unshakable and unchanging truth. It is a charity that supplies God's love, salvation, grace, and healing. Not only that, it is a spiritual dojo where his beloved disciples train their lives in heaven. Therefore, we must know that there is nothing more precious and precious to our members than this church. Verse 2 of today's text says, "The LORD loves the men of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob; he calls you glorious, O city of God." What makes the Church of God so glorious?
1. Because it is the eternal church that God Himself established.
(1) In today's text, what is the origin and foundation of this church? Verse 5 says, “The Most High will himself establish Zion.” Also, in verse 1, it says, “His base is in the holy mountain.” "Most High" is the Greek word "El", meaning "the Most High". This means that the church is the supreme masterpiece of the everlasting God that exists on this earth. The word "base" here is the Hebrew word "Jesus", which means "His foyndaiton" (His foyndaiton).
(2) In fact, God has established the family, the nation, and the church on the divine chair. The family is the smallest basic unit, and the state is the largest human group in the world. But while the church exists in this world, it is by no means of this world. The church is the body of Christ, which the powers of Hades cannot overcome because God Himself established it on a holy foundation (Matthew 16:18). Dr. Park Hyung-ryong in his book The Church Theory said, "Kings and nations come and go, but the church prays and a thousand years is like a day. It stands immovable like the eternal mountains, a mountain full of the earth, a house that is not artificial."
(3) Therefore, those who love, serve, and be loyal to this church will receive eternal blessings, and those who persecute, oppose, and rebel against this church of God will be judged by Almighty God and will be destroyed. Therefore, our members must love the Church of the Eternal God. We must yearn hard, be loyal, serve, and dedicate ourselves. This is the way to be blessed and the way to be rewarded.
2. Because it is the church that God loves the most.
(1) Verse 2 says, "The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob." Here "Zion" is the nickname of the City of David, where the ark of God was housed. Zion is the last place where the ark of God was placed. The ark of God, which once stayed in Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:3, 3:3), Abinadab (20 years), and the house of Obed-edom (verse 3), was finally placed in the Most Holy of Solomon's Temple built on Mount Zion. Therefore, Zion was the spiritual hometown of Israel where the temple of God stood, and it was the holy palace where God was present.
(2) Therefore, the phrase “God loves the gates of Zion” means that he loves his church very much. Indeed, the Church is the most precious body of Christ in the world in terms of its existence, mission, and value. It is the heritage of Christ, built at the price of His precious blood. It is the ark of salvation that saves lives that are more precious than the world. It is a resting place for the soul where you can taste the grace and glory of the kingdom of heaven.
(3) Therefore, it is the glorious church that God loves the most. Therefore, believers who love God cannot but love the Church of God. There is nothing to waste for this church. They just devote all their talents, wealth, time, and life to them. Deacon Kwon of McLean Presbyterian Church in Washington, regretting paying 10,000 dollars a month to pay off a bank debt when purchasing the church, dedicated the $250,000 house he had bought with blood and sweat to God. It was because of his love for the church. We, too, should love the Church of God like this.
3. Because it is a church where God is always there and provides everything.
(1) In verse 3 of the main text, it says, “City of God..”. The church is the city of God and the house of God. It is a place where God always lives and never leaves. God promised this when he dedicated Solomon's temple after completing it.