First, the Body of Christ (the Church) is not a building, but a blood-bought people, the Bride of Christ. Got it.
However, body parts tend to group together, don’t they? Otherwise, those separate parts have a tendency to rot and die. I hope you get it.
So, when we read in the book of Acts where Saul (later Paul) was heading out to track down Christians in order to put them in jail, or worse, what did Jesus say when he appeared on the road to Damascus?
… “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” – Acts 9:4 NKJV
Did you see that?? Jesus so closely identified with the Christians – the Church – that he asked Saul why he was persecuting HIM! Persecuting the Church equated with persecuting Jesus!
Now, with that in mind, what do you think Jesus thinks when you disparage His followers? What do you think He would say if you were to tell him (after falling to your knees under a blinding light), “Jesus, I love you, but I have no desire to meet with others who love you”?
Get it?
Jesus is very fond of gatherings in His name.
Do you love Jesus? Love his Church. Be a part.
The Recovering Legalist 
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Well, in our work, Brother Anthony, we happen to believe that Jesus personally called and formed His church personally during His earthly ministry, and that each church today belongs to Him personally.
Seems rather presumptuous of us to reject something our Lord and Savior personally formed.
You’d think.
Short, sweet and to the point. Reminds me of Hebrews 10:25.
The church is called the Bride of Christ. If someone was to come up to me and tell me, “I like you, but I don’t like your wife,” I wouldn’t be very fond of them. How can we say we love Jesus and hate His bride? It doesn’t make sense! I LOVE the church! Is she imperfect? YES! But she is HIS!!
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