Words of Grace

By Rev. Mahlon Nevel

The first time the church is mentioned in the New Testament is in Matthew 16:18. Jesus said, “I will build my church.”

This was a prophetic statement. The church was coming, Jesus said. It would be his church, and he himself would build it.

We are now living in the age. The church is all about Jesus, or at least it should be.

Christ loved the church, and he gave himself for the church. (Ephesians 5:25) And so should people love the church, and give themselves to serve him in his church.

Christ has loved us, and has given himself for us, according to Ephesians 5:2.

He loved the Church, and he loved us. But his love is also a personal love, as Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20. “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

A pastor and a man from his church visited a woman in her home. They had heard that she was looking for a

church to join.
“I am so glad that you came to see me,” she said. “What I need to know is how much it will cost me to join your church.”
In her previous church people would come around once a year and tell her what she had to give just to maintain her membership there. She thought all churches charged a price to become a member.

The pastor assured her that nobody from the church would ever do that. He told her that they an offering plate that she could put money in it if she wanted to.

“Can I tell you about that payment that has already been paid?” he asked her. He then had the privilege of leading her to Christ right then.