“The Church is the pillar and ground of the Truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15
The Church is spoken of as the Bride of Christ, in a formative or developing state, His espoused. Each one who makes a full consecration of himself to the Lord, trusting in the merit of Jesus, when begotten of the Holy Spirit, is counted a member of the Body of Christ. As a member he is to grow in grace, knowledge and love, putting off the former things of the flesh and putting on the fruits and graces of the Holy Spirit. (This is done through the LORD’s processes of justification, sanctification, and, leading eventually-if found faithful-to glorification as a member of The Christ [Head and Body].)
The Church in glory will consist exclusively of the Redeemer and His Bride class, His joint-heirs. Romans 8:17, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ…we may be also glorified together.” Under another figure, Jesus is the Head, and the Church are His body members (the body of Christ). 1 Corinthians 12:12, “For as the body is one, and has a number of parts, and all the parts make one body, so is Christ.” These alone will have part in the first resurrection; these alone will reign with Christ a thousand years. Revelation 20:6, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection…they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”
On this side of the veil, The Church are referred to as prospective members of the Body of Christ. They must be found to have been called, chosen, and faithful to their covenant of sacrifice in walking in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ before they can be changed into the actual condition of spirit being.
