The church of our Lord, Jesus Christ, is a huge part of God’s scheme of redemption.  It is not, as some have suggested, plan B, only necessary because Jesus failed to set up the kingdom when He came the first time.  Instead, it is a part of God’s eternal purpose.

Ephesians 3:10–11 (ESV)
¹⁰ So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.  ¹¹ This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Because of the immense importance of the church, accentuated by the fact that it is the only place where salvation can be achieved, I am going to take the next several blogs to consider this divine institution.  I am hoping it will be beneficial to the readers.      

When Adam and Eve sinned, introducing both sin and death into the world (Genesis 3:1-7), God immediately foretold of the solution.

Genesis 3:15 (ESV)
¹⁵ I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

This verse has been called the “Protoevangelium,” meaning, “First Gospel” because it is the first reference in the Bible to Christ being sent to save mankind from sin.  In the verse, Christ is the offspring of the woman.  His heel would be bruised on Calvary’s cross, figuratively referring to the suffering He would endure.  At the same time, He would bruise the head of Satan, figuratively describing the crushing blow Jesus would deliver to the power of the devil by dying for the sins of mankind.  The Hebrews writer wrote of this.

Hebrews 2:14 (ESV)
¹⁴Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

Much was accomplished by the death of our Savior, primarily the shedding of His blood with which, not only would sins be washed away (Revelation 1:5), but the church would be purchased (Acts 20:28).  But, Jesus bruising the head of the serpent by dying on the cross was not enough.  He had to be raised from the dead if He was going to save mankind, and the church, where the saved would be gathered, was to be established.  Jesus acknowledged this when He promised to build His church.

Matthew 16:18 (ESV)
¹⁸ And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Jesus knew at this point that the church was coming.  There was nothing the devil could do about it.  The Hadean realm could not hold Him (Acts 2:24).  He was about to condemn sin in the flesh (Romans 8:3), and the people of God—the church, were about to arrive on the scene.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.