Questions and Answers on The Church of God
(G. E. Harmon, Faith & Victory Jan. 940)
Question: What is the church?
Answer: Saved men and women. Read Eph.1 22, 23—“and hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body.” The church, therefore, is the body of Christ, therefore includes all his members; so all the saved, universally or locally, are called the Body of Christ, or Church of God.
Question: Whose church is it?
Answer: Heb. 3:6—“But Christ as a son over his own house whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” Read Eph. 5:25-27. "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish". We see here that Christ wants to make himself a present of a sanctified church.
Question: Who is the founder?
Answer:Heb. 11:10—“For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” The Church was the city which Abraham looked for; Heb. 12:22, 23—“But ye are come unto mount Sion, unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, . . . To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in
heaven.”
Question: What is the foundation?
Answer: “Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ”1 Cor. 3:11.
Question: When was it built?
Answer:Matt. 16:18—“And I say unto thee, That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church”—this rock, meaning himself. Read Eph. 2:20-22—“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the spirit.” He said, I will build my church (yet future). This was in A. D. 32, and in A. D. 59 the apostle said, “Ye are God’s building;” so it was built between these dates. Of course, the church was begun under the labor of John the Baptist, Jesus, and the apostles. Many believed, and entered the kingdom then and constituted material for the church; but the coming of the Holy Ghost on Pentecost was the time the church was really buit and set in order, as seen in 1 Cor.12:6-13, 18, 24. The church proper did not existuntil the fullness of Christ came, which was the day of Pentecost, as seen in Eph. 1:23. Then was the “fullness,” then the church was fully set up, compacted, fitly joined together.
Question: Who is the head?
Answer: “And he (Jesus) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. Col. 1:18 (also verse 24, Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: and Eph.1:22, 23)Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
Question: Who or what is the door?
Answer: Jesus. “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” Also;Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
He being the door, every one going into the church must pass by faith through the blood of Jesus, the door. Hence we can biblically say, there is not a sinner in his church. “Oh,” says one, “you are talking about the invisible church.” No, I am talking about the church Jesus built, of which he is the door, and which all the apostles wrote about. I know nothing of an invisible church on earth. Jesus says in Rev. 3:8— “Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.” Men can open and shut and take in members in their man-made organizations, whether saved or not; but not so with the Church of God,
Question: Who are the members? *****
Answer: All the saved of earth. As we have seen, salvation is the mode of induction into the church, it is evident there is no one in the church that is not saved. The church is one “family in heaven and earth:” named from the Father. Eph. 3:14, 15—“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,” which includes all who are born again (John 3:7).
Question: Who takes the members in?
Answer: The Lord takes them in. Acts 2:47—“The Lord added to the church daily” ; 1 Cor. 12:13—“For by one spirit are we all baptized (or inducted) into one body” ; 18th verse—“now hath God set the members every one of them in the body as it hath pleased him.” The Lord did the taking in, or adding to, on Pentecost and he is still doing it. Man can not take upon himself the prerogative of God.
Question: Who is the organizer?
Answer:1 Cor. 12:8-11—“For to one is given, by the Spirit, the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge, by the sane Spirit: To another faith, . . . to another gifts of healing, . . . working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits: to another divers kinds of tongues: to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, divid ing to every man severally as he will” ;verses 27,28—“Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular” ; Acts 20:28—“Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
Question: How many churches has he?
Answer: Only one. John 10:16—“Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: (meaning the Gentiles) them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” Also in Acts 20:28. "The flock" means one flock, called "Church of God."
Question: What is unity?
Answer: Unity is a thing undivided itself yet separate from every other thing. (Web.) In scripture a body of believers united, compact, knit together, yet separate from every other body. Jesus prayed that we might have this blessed experience in John 17:17-22. Entire sanctification is the only experience as taught in this prayer, that can destroy carnality out of the heart (which is the cause of division), and unify hearts together. In Eph. 4:10-13 we are taught how in his organization he has placed "apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith. We are fitly joined together"(16th verse).
Question: What is the difference between the visible and invisible church?
Answer:1 John 3:2, 3—“Beloved, now are we the sons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him: for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth Irmself, even as he is pure” ; hence this mortal coil would be the only difference. Read 1 Cor. 15:51-54 When that change comes, it does away with mortality only; for this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality, then
we will be united with the heavenly, or invisible phase of the church. Oh, my brethren, be sure you are ready for this change: towit, the redemption of our body (Rom. 8:23). The soul in eternity will be as it is here while in the body. Then live according to the example Christ set for us. Read 1 Pet. 2:21-24.
Question: Where is his church?
Answer:Mat 18:8“Where two or three (or more) are gathered together in my name”(if thev are real saints). That is the divine location of the local church. The universal church is all saints anvwhere in earth. ----G. E. Harmon
PART 2. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON THE CHURCH O^ GOD
(Continued from Feb. 1940 Issue Faith & Victory)
Question: Who is the bride and the bridegroom?
Answer: Read John 3: 28, 29. “ I am not the Christ”(John 1:20); then in John 3:28, 29 we learn who the bridegroom is: “ He that hath (past and present tense) the bride is the bridegroom” or Christ and his church. We will read from Isaiah 62:2-5, I will quote the 5th verse: “ For as a young man marrieth a virgin so shall thy sons marry thee, and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.”
Question: What are the walls of this church or city?
Answer: Isaiah 26:1— “ Salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.”Isaiah 60:18— “Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders: but thou shalt call thy walls salvation and thy gates praise.”
Question: Who records the names?
Answer:Luke 10:20— “ Rejoice not that the spirits are subject unto you, but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” ; and as God takes the members in (see 1 Cor. 12:18) he evidently writes them down; for he blots them out that sins (Exodus 32:33)."Names are written in the book of life".(Phil. 4:3).
Question: What is the name?
Answer:Church of God. Some one says “It is the church of God, and how can he name it after himself? Well, he did do it, and all the apostles sanctioned the name. Now we shall prove this by his own words: “ Holy Father, keep through (Greek) in thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they all may be one, as we are one” (John 17:20-23);“I have kept them in thy name” (11th verse) which had been perdicted by Isaiah 62:2— “ And thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.” Here the church was named by the mouth of the Lord. This is in connection with Eph. 3:15, correctly rendered from the Greek reads thus: “ of whom the whole family in the heavens and on earth is named.” So we see the name was given by the mouth of the Lord, and was derived from God, his Father. The apostles respected the prayer of Jesus, and kept the church in his name,as we shall prove by the following scriptures: “ Feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28); “The church of God which is at Corinth” (1 Cor. 1:2, also 2 Cor. 1 :1 ); “ Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God” (1 Cor. 10:32): “ We have no such custom, neither the churches of God”(1 Cor.11:16); “ Despise ye the church of God?”(1 Cor.11:22); “ I persecuted the church of God and
wasted it”(Gal. 1:13): “ For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God” (1 Thess. 2:14); “ We ourselves glory in you in the churches of God” (2 Thess. 1 :4 ): “ If a man know not how to his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?”
(1 Tim. 3 :5 ); “ But, if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave
thvself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God,the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). Where he speaks of churches, means different localities, while church means universal. Why should it be thought a thing incredible for God
to name or call the church after himself? He is God, and yet “ the God of the whole earth shall he be call-ed”(Isaiah 54:5). Saints are saints, yet called saints.(Gr.)
(1 Cor. 1 :2 ); so “ we will walk in the name of the Lord our God” (Micah 4:5).
Question: What is the test of fellowship?
Answer: “ God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his son Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:9, 10). “ If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another” (1 John 1 :7 ); Fellowship is of the Spirit. (See Phil 2:1). Now I will quote from Bro. Warner’s tract, The Church of God, page 25: “ Fellowship exists where heart purity exists, it is the conscience blending of hearts filled with the same Holy Spirit. One may have been led into all truth, the other not; this does not interrupt fel
lowship; nevertheless, it is the duty of such who “know the truth” in meekness to instruct others who do not. Ignorance of some truth does not destroy fellowship, but resisting the truth does, because it forfeits salvation. We must not sanction people’s errors; but, if saved, show our love and fellowship to them so long as they do not get the evidence that their wrong doctrines have become willful. To ignore fellowship because of some doctrinal error is bigotry. To agree to disagree, or put on equality
truth and error, is babel confusion. To know the truth is our privilege, to teach it our duty; but to have fellowship with the pure and upright of heart is an involuntary and spontaneous fact. Sects are the result of carnality, nothing but perfect holiness of heart destroys carnality; and thus removes both sectism and its cause, amen.” Brethren, the fire of God’s love saves the soul, harmonizes all hearts that receive it, leads them into
perfect and uniform obedience to all truth, and drives afar all who refuse to pass through its purging fire, and gain the plane of holy fellowship. The chief object of God’s ministry is to perfect the saints “ till we all come in the unity of the faith” ( “ once del-
-ivered unto the saints”(Jude 3) Eph. 4:12, 13. The comforter guides into all truth, sanctifies wholly. God wants a sanctified church— more fathers and mothers to care for the babes as they are born into the church. “ The pure in heart have perfect fellowship even though all previously educated errors have not as yet disappeared; therefore, if all saints live up to all the light they have and manifest a desire for more light, there will be no real cause of division but sin.” (The last and the following sentences are Bro. Warner’s.) “ On the plane of bible holiness, no outward observences are made a test, for holy men judge not from appearances, but ‘judge righteous judgment’ ; but if we all walk in all the light God gives us through his word, sanctified wholly soul and body, then we will not want to do or wear things that pertains to the world or is an offence to the
brethren. But if we persist in doing and wearing or practicing those things, it may be because we want to, more than because we see no wrong in so doing.” In conclusion, here is a summary or quintessence or extract of the doctrine of the church of God: It
is God’s; He is the founder, foundation; He built it; He is the head, door, organizer; He named it, takes in members, blots out sinners, sets each member in his place; He does all the appointing (Isa. 44:7); all are on an equality, no one above another; it is com
posed of saved only (1 Jno. 3:8, 10), from every nation on earth and in Heaven. -- G. E. Harmon.
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THE CHURCH OF GOD AS FORESHADOWED BY
SOLOMON’S TEMPLE
“ Son of man shew the house to the house of Israel that they may be ashamed of their iniquities, and let them measure the pattern”Ezek. 43:10. “ Upon the top of the mountian the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy, behold, this is the law of the house”verse 12. And David said, “ Holiness becometh thy house, O Lord, forever.” Paul said, “If I tarry long that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” 1 Tim. 3:15. So the house of God is the Church of God. Solomon’s house is said to be a type of the Church of God which was built by Christ through the apostles, with the "Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven" on and after Pentecost, 1 Pet. 1:12. Jesus said, “ On this ROCK, I will (future) build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” Matt. 16:18— Jesus, the foundation; Paul laid; and others built thereon, 1 Cor. 3:10:12. Solomon’s temple, or house, was built 970 B. C. and stood about 416 years until 587, When it was destroyed by the Babylonians, 2 Kings 25:89. The Israelites were captives in Babylon 70 years, after which they were released by King Cyrus, king of Pesria. 42,360 Jews were set free and returned to Jerusalem to build again the temple under the leadership of Zerubbabel about 534 B. C., Ezra 3:8-10. This temple stood till Herod’s time, but since it was dilapidated, he commenced to rebuild about 20 B. C .; but it is said it was not finished until about A. D. 26, and destroyed by the Romans under Titus, A. D. 70. These three temples were erected on the same mountain, Mt. Moriah. We will now return to the building of Solomon’s temple under Zerubbabel. Read Haggai 2:9:“ The glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former, and in this place I will give peace, saith the Lord of host.” History says the latter house was inferior to the first in structure, and the reason the latter was to be more glorious was because of the presence of the Lord. Solomon’s temple as a whole was a double type: it was more glorious than Moses’ temple, or house, as it was built in Canaan (which is illustrative of sanctification) while Moses’ house was built in the wilderness (which could only represent justification, and Christ laying the foundation on which to build his church). Joshua going into Canaan was a type of Christ going into heaven for our sanctification, for no one was sanctified wholly before. Now read Heb. 3:1-6:“ For this man (Christ Jesus) was counted worthy of more glory than Moses.” 2nd verse: “ and Moses, verily was faithful in all his house.”5th verse, “ But Christ as a son over his own house whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. 6th verse. So this latter house, typified by Solomon’s house, hath more glory than Moses’ house, or the former house. Now turn to Isaiah 65:17:“ For behold I create new heavens and a new earth and the former shall not be remembered.”Everything prior to this new creation will be forgotten, done away. “Hear oh earth” (God’s people) they have a heavenly experience, Heb 9:23. “Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice,”
I Chron. 16:31. God was not satisfied with them so He' wants a new people with a new experience, which He calls Jerusalem in Rev. 21:2, new Jerusalem in Heb. 12:22, heavenly Jerusalem. “ But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create, forbehold I create Jerusalem a rejoicing and her people a joy.” Salem means peace, and Jerusalem means Jew’s peace. Now, it might seem to some that Solomon’s temnle, being a type of the Church of God, that the latter house would mean the church in the evening time would be more glorious than the morning or apostolic church; but not so. Soloman’s temple was destroyed, foundation and all, while the foundation of the Church of God “ standeth sure.” It never was, neither can be destroyed, read Ezra 3:10. The builders under Zerubbabel laid the foundation, but this temple being destroyed does symbolize the church of God, in that Israel being captives in Babylon, the Church also was driven in to the wilderness: but when she was brought out by the Holy Ghost ministry she came out the same church, foundation and all. So the church, or house in this Holy Ghost dispensation is more glorious than the former. Solomon, David’s literal son. Built the Father a house; --- Christ, David’s spiritual son, built his Father a house, and he will turn it over to the Father at the end, 1 Cor. 15:24. Saints of God, let us move up. I fear we are not yet up to the anostolic standard ("house) much less “ more glorious.” They laid down their lives for the cause of Christ, sold their possessions and put everything into the work of the Lord— their lives as well as their money. This they did in the beginning and establishing of the church. This was not laid down as a standard of the church, as some think that we must sell all and lay it down at the apostles’ feet. Now whose feet? Echo says, “ Who?” There is one more thing which I wish to mention. Solomon’s temple went up without the sound of a hammer, which is a type of the church. Every blood-washed member will fit into the house without any hammering or knocking. There is no use trying to hammer crooked people to make them fit in for they are not in to begin with. Let us be careful how we use the hammer (Word). God’s house (church) is visible. It is only invisible when some join a sect or to those who do not live a saintly life. The church constitution will be found in the 18th chapter ofMatt, verse 20: “ For where (the divine location) two or three (divine agreement)are gathered (divine drawing) together (divine unity) in my name (divine authority) there am I (divine presence) in the midst of them (divine center).” Christ is the hus-band, that binds together.The church is not tied together, but bound by cords of love, thank God. So we will not compromise with anything or person that does not teach and practice things which we have learned from the beginning.
G. E. Harmon.
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The Church of God is Not a Sect
Fred Pruitt -- Faith & Victory --- 1938
The Church of God is not a sect, as God makes no sects. Sects are formed by men aided by the spirit of Satan. Men organize themselves together under certain rules and doctrines and give themselves a name calling their organized body the Church, and people join them something similar to the Lodges of the world. Sinners join them if they are somewhat moral and will make a profess on, pay their dues or assessments or come under their law or rule of giving a tenth.
The true Church of God or “ Family of God” is vastly different from the “ Man-made worldly Churches” insomuch that it is organized by God only, and one can only become a member by being born of the Spirit and will only retain their membership by continuing to live free from sin and walk in the light of his word. They consecrate to God and to him only and their rules and doctrines are the whole Bible and when he gives them more light and knowledge they are free to walk in it, having no man made bands and straps on them. Jesus is the door and he takes in those that should be in and puts out those that should be put out and he makes no errors.
We are born into God’s Family or Church by a spiritual birth even as children are born into literal families by a literal birth. We take the Father's name, “ Church of God”or “ Family of God” just as the earthly child takes its parent's name. (John17:11) "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are"& (Eph. 3:14.)"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ"
We retain our sonship with God just as long as we do not sin and do no evil.
When we sin and do evil and die spiritually we are only counted in the family as a dead child,-
Satan loves for people to join sects and take upon themselves a profession of religion. He encourages them in those things and has great personally attractive preachers that teach many good things and say many fair speeches and seem to be great lovers of the Bible. They go after numbers and have large crowds with a profession traveling the broad way to destruction.
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THE ANALOGIES OF THE BIBLE --THE BOOK OF ALL BOOKS
We stand in awe when reading the wonderful words of Jesus. As He speaks from nature of the birds of the air, the sparrow that falls to the ground, the lily of the field, God’s care is seen in all His gracious words. And the floods, the angry waters—a picture of retribution; wind, which is a symbol of the Spirit in its regenerating power; the pearl of
great price is salvation; the wheat and tares, the sheep and goats foreshadows judgment; the barren fig tree personifies false professors; the mustard seed, and the yeast are analogies of the rise and growth of the Kingdom of God; the members are salt to save, and lights to shine; and in parables: the sower, the fishermen— figurative of Christ and His ministers;
He is our Bread, Water, and Shepherd.
He in His life and death takes the opposite of what He wants us to be and enjoy.
He was made the Son of Man that we might become the Sons of God;
He was born in a manger that we might have a Mansion;
He became human that we might be partakers ofHis divine nature; He became poor that we may be rich;
He had no home that we might have an Eternal Home;
He became a servant that we might be Kings and Priests;
He became sin that we might be righteous;
He was condemned that we might not be condemned;
He became weary that we might have rest;
He was wounded for our transgressions that we might have eternal forgiveness;
He bore our chastisements that we might have Peace with God;
He bore our stripes in His own body that we might be healed;
He was cut off that me might be made nigh;
He was stripped that we might be clothed;
He became a curse that we might inherit the Blessing;
He was forsaken that we might be loved;
He died that we might live;
He lives that we might not die (the second death);
He went into the realm of darkness to bring us into light;
He was rejected that we might be accepted;
He was silent that we might testify of Him ;
He cried, I thirst, that He might give us Living Water;
His foot-steps were heavenly that we might walk in His steps
He sanctified Himself that we might be sanctified; on the cross he said, It is finished, that we might finish the work He gave us to do;
He went into glory that we might follow him there;
He is interceding for us that we might intercede for others;
He went to prepare a place for us, and he wants us ready to occupy when He comes after us.
Dear saints, are we ready? --- God help us to fight the good fight of faith.
— G. E. Harmon. Faith & Victory Jan. 1939
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Questions and Answers on The Church of God