Three Metaphors of the Church:
The Bible illustrates the church with three basic metaphors. Let’s briefly look at each of them.
First, the church is like a living body with many parts, but Jesus is the head. This is often used in the context of spiritual gifts. (See Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:4-27)
Second, the church is like a living temple, but Jesus is the chief corner stone. This is often used in the context of all nations being fit together. (See 1 Peter 2:4-10 and Ephesians 1:11-22)
Finally, the church is like a flock of sheep, but Jesus is the chief shepherd. This is often used in the context of ownership, guidance and protection. (See 1 Peter 5:1-5 and John 10:1-21)
When these are taken together, they stress the concept that the church is a living organism. It is make up of many parts that must function and work together. The only way this can happen is by total submission and obedience to Jesus Christ. He promises to build His church.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone

The BIG Mission of the Church
“10) so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. Ephesians 3:10
Many Christians have never noticed this verse. It talks about a mission the church has to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
This language is used in other key places in the book of Ephesians as well. For example, it also appears in Ephesians 1:19-21; 2:1-2 and 6:10-12. With these four references, this constitutes a cohesive theme in the book of Ephesians.
So what is the mission the church has to the principalities and powers? It is a living proclamation that Jesus Christ and the kingdom of light has conquered the kingdom of darkness. It is the message that Jesus destroyed the works of the devil. It includes the message that believers can be saved, set free, changed and walk in dominion over the enemy. It is the message that the body of Christ can be united in Spirit and work together as a mighty spiritual army. It is the message that Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords.
But let me be clear, this message is to be lived out and not merely spoken. Jesus Christ is to be ruling and reigning through the church by His Spirit in this present age.
So where did things go so wrong? The drift started when the meaning of “the church” was changed from a living body and vibrant bride of Christ to buildings ruled by carnal organizations. The church became institutionalized.
So what’s it going to take to revive the church and get it back on track? It needs to rediscover its biblical identity, call and mission. It needs to return to the gospel, life changing conversions and the walk in the Spirit. It needs to become the bride of Christ in the world that is eagerly awaiting His return.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told:
“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.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭25‬-‭27‬ ‭
I enjoy a good love story. There is non better than the story of the Son of God coming to earth to find a bride.
He was both Deity and Royalty. He came to the religious leaders of His own chosen people and they rejected Him. So He turned to the common publicans, sinners and even gentiles, and they received Him.
He loved them to the point of giving His own life as a dowery for them. Then like the story of Esther, she was put in the care of Hegai for her beautification. Compare Esther 2:8-15 with Ephesians 5:26-27. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to make the Bride of Christ beautiful for her presentation to Jesus on wedding day.
And so the greatest love story in human history is unfolding as Jesus builds His Church and prepares His bride. I believe that process is nearing completion and the Bridegroom is coming quickly.
There are many other Scriptures that add to this story. It is truly the greatest Love story ever told.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone

The Church Prevailing Against the Gates of Hades
“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭18‬ ‭
Make no mistake, spiritual warfare is a reality. In the Old Testament, Satan aimed his attack against Israel. Since the finished work of Christ, the kingdom of darkness now aims its attack also against Christians and the body of Christ. (Read Revelation 12:17)
As Jesus set out to build His church, He gave every born-again believer His authority and power. (Read Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:3-8) It is essential that every born-again believer know the authority that comes with their position “in Christ” and that they walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Keep in mind, the church is comprised of people and not buildings or governing structures. The body of Christ is a glorious mystery made up of born-again and Spirit filled believers.
Satan seeks to deceive, divide, tempt and concur the church. He hates the bride of Christ because she has been equipped and empowered to overcome him.
The book of Ephesians is the handbook on spiritual warfare. It was written to equip every believer to know the surpassing greatness of God, the riches of our inheritance in Christ and the power available to us to overcome the forces of darkness.
As we shall learn, one of the themes of the book of Ephesians is the mystery of the church as the bride of Christ. It unpacks the full meaning of Matthew 16:13-20.
When the church steps into its discipleship, educating, equipping and training call, the gates of Hades cannot prevail against the mature body of Christ. (See Ephesians 4:11-16) Jesus has given His Church the keys of the Kingdom of heaven.
But what happens if believers remain carnal, ignorant of biblical truth and immature? What happens when believers are content being part of an organization rather than alive and active in the living organism of the body of Christ?
The result is obvious and tragic. The Gates of Hades quickly begins to prevail against the church and hold many believers in sinful bondage and defeat. The church becomes carnal, liberal and captive to sinful bondage. It quickly disconnects from its mission and call in the world. (Read 2 Timothy 4:1-5)
But it need not happen to you! The truth can set you free and you can walk in the full benefits of your position “in Christ” and the power of the Holy Spirit.
The purpose of the Freedom Quest Workshop that I teach is leading believers to freedom in Christ and equipping them to overcome the daily battles. It is aimed at helping them become mature, fruitful and effective soldiers in the body of Christ!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone

Jesus is the Rock of our Salvation.
“13) Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14) And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15) He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16) Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17) And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18) I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”” Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭13-19‬
What was the rock upon which Jesus promised to build His church? The Catholic Church uses this phrase of obscurity to say it was Peter.
But the context is not about Peter, it is about the identity of Jesus Christ! Jesus was asking; “who do people say that I am?” The disciples sighted many theories, but only one answer was correct; “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
The church is based squarely on the identity and deity of Jesus Christ. That was the subject matter of the questions Jesus asked in the context.
The rest of the New Testament is devoted to defending the identity, deity and Lordship of Jesus Christ. The gospel is about Jesus Christ and not Peter.
In 1 Peter 2:4-8, Peter himself taught that Jesus is the living stone, the chief corner stone. Never does the Bible put any man as the corner stone of the gospel or the church.
This is settled in Colossians 1:13-23. Jesus is the highest authority and head of the church. He alone is the basis of our salvation.
Philippians 2:5-11 makes it clear Jesus alone is the highest name. “9) For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10) so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11) and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭11‬) ‭
No obscure text can be interpreted is such a way as to counter the clear teaching of the rest of the Bible. This is especially true when there is an interpretation of the context that is in harmony with the rest of the Bible.
What is that interpretation? It is clear and obvious! The statement that Peter made that “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”, is the rock upon which Jesus was going to build His Church. Jesus was going to build His church and not Peter’s church.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone

Meaning of “the Church.”
“ 17) And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18) I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”” Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭17‬-‭19‬
The Greek word for “church” is “Ekklesia.” It literally means “those called out.” The Christan community was designated for the first time as “ekklesia” in Acts 2:41 & 47. This distinguished it from the Jewish religious assembly known as the “synagogue.”
In the English language, we have the two terms a “Christian Church” versus a “Jewish Synagogue.” The church defines those who are born-again through faith in Christ. The Synagogue refers to a gathering of Jewish people seeking to be justified by keeping the Law of Moses.
It must be clarified that both terms technically refers to the assembly of the people and not the buildings. We have distorted the meanings by assigning them to the buildings and not specifically to the people.
This mindset of the church being the people and not the building is difficult to embrace, but it is crucial. The gospel does not save buildings, it saves people. Jesus is coming back for the people and not the buildings.
The first 300 years of Christianity, the believers met in homes and not buildings. The persecuted church does not meet in buildings, but they come together as an assembly. They are the church! If you are a born again believer, you are part of “the church.”
I consciously started working on this change of mindset years ago while driving with my family. When we would pass a church building, I would say; “There is a Christian building, I wonder what the church body looks like?”
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone