Complete union with Christ and with one another is absolutely necessary to the perfection of believers. – {RC 200.5}

To reach the standard of perfection that God requires of us requires a unity that links me in utter dependence on Christ and to His body, the Church.

Now there comes to mind a few questions to be pondered today. The first is do you love the Church? How much do you love the Church, the body of Christ, the members of that body?

How much did Christ love that Church?

…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. – Ephesians 5:25-27

That, as says the Word, is the church that Christ will present to Himself when He comes. He loved that church, the church, and gave Himself for it; and whosoever will be of that church when it shall be the glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, must also love the church, and give himself for it.

That is the church by whom God will give His last message to this world “in this generation.” But He can not have that church by whom He can give that message, until He shall find a people who will also love the church and give themselves for it.

We are exhorted in the Word to “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” And when that mind in Him led Him to love the church, and to give Himself for it, what will that mind do in any other person? So I ask again do you love the Church?

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: – Romans 1:20

There is a principle here that we understand well, that the things of heaven are clearly seen on this earth. Being covered in white clothing, the symbol of His Righteousness, Marriage, the Relation between Christ and the Church, Baptism, the death of self and resurrection into new life. We know well that to disregarding the symbol means disregarding the reality.

Now when Christ was on the earth one if not all of His disciples had a problem with unbelief and let us read about it.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? – John 14:6-9

Christ when on this earth was the symbol of His Father. To reject Christ was in fact to reject God and we know well that Israel indeed rejected both Christ and the Father. So now that Christ is risen and has ascended unto the Father there is now a new set of unbelief that is rampant in this world, that Christ is the Son of God, the only begotten Son whom the Father hath sent. Why do you think this problem exists? Because the invisible is not clearly discerned in the things that are visible, the symbol.

The evidence that the world cannot withstand and controvert, that God has sent Jesus into the world as its Redeemer, is in the oneness of the church. Their unity and harmony is the convincing argument. — {UL 63}

In the oneness of Christ’s church it will be proved that God sent His only-begotten Son into the world. – {1SM 385.1}

There seems to be a problem with the symbol right? Is the problem that believers don’t love the Church or is it that they don’t love Christ?

The church is the body of Christ in the world, yes? It is Christ manifested in the world; it is Christ Himself incarnate in the world. And that church, being His body, being Himself manifested, to love that church and give myself for it, is nothing less, and cannot be anything more, than to love Him and give myself for Him. If we don’t love the symbol can we indeed love the reality?

God would have His church a living, devoted, working church. But our people, as a body, are far from this now. God calls for strong, brave souls, for active, living Christians, who are following the true Pattern, and who will exert a decided influence for God and the right. The Lord has committed to us, as a sacred trust, most important and solemn truths, and we should show their influence upon our lives and characters. [306] – {CCh 199.3} [Counsels for the Church]

There is too distant a feeling manifested. The cross is not laid right hold of, and borne as it should be. All should feel that they are their brother’s keeper, that they are in a great degree responsible for the souls of those around them. The brethren err when they leave this work all to the ministers. The harvest is great, and the laborers are few. – {GW82 54.1}

The world will be convinced, not by what the pulpit teaches, but by what the church lives. The minister in the desk announces the theory of the gospel; the practical piety of the church demonstrates its power.—Testimonies for the Church 7:16. – {ChS 67.5}

There is a serious lack of Christlike love that manifests itself in inharmonious action and dis-unity. Unity, Love, Harmony in the Church is more than about just getting along; it is more than good management. It is ‘a plant of heavenly growth, and it must be fostered and nourished’ – {AH 50.4} It is the very abasement of all human pride, of all selfishness, of all self. Love as expressed in the unity of the body is as we have noted before absolutely necessary to the perfection of believers. So I ask once again do you love the Church? Do you love Christ?

The members of the church must come into unity; and in order to do this, they must have less of self, and more of Jesus. They must learn of Christ. They must be meek and lowly of heart. Their selfish pride must die. Then their mountains of difficulty will be reduced to mole-hills.— {RH, January 6, 1891}

The secret of our success in the work of God will be found in the harmonious working of our people. There must be concentrated action. Every member of the body of Christ must act his part in the cause of God, according to the ability that God has given him. We must press together against obstructions and difficulties, shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart.— {RH, December 2, 1890}

…success will seldom result from scattered effort. The united influence of all the members of the church is required. – {RH December 4, 1900 Par. 11}

Do you love the Church?

Behold, how good and how pleasant is it for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. – Psalm 133:1-3

Behold it my brethrens, behold how pleasant it is to dwell together in unity. Here we read that it is as a precious ointment upon the head. Would you like that ointment upon your head and are you willing that it be upon the head of others? Well are you willing to give your all for it? To love the Church and give yourself for it?

A working church is a growing church. The members find a stimulus and a tonic in helping others.– {WM 305.2}

The spirit of unselfish labor for others gives depth, stability, and Christlike loveliness to the character and brings peace and happiness to its possessor. – {WM 302.1}

That ointment though requiring such a self denial as we have never before manifested is in return a healing tonic to our very own souls. Though we must give up all, we will receive abundantly more.

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. – Matthew 26:7

We know this story well don’t we? Mary brought her costly gift and with weeping anointed the hands and the feet of the Master in whom she so loved. Let us notice what Jesus said of her act of devotion.

My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven… And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. – Luke 7:46-48,50 

That ointment was a symbol of the overflowing heart of the giver. It was an outward demonstration of a love fed by heavenly streams until it overflowed. – {5BC 1101.2}

Mary considered it not too costly to anoint her Saviours head with the precious ointment.  So do you love the Church? Do you love Christ? To give everything for this body is to anoint it with precious ointment. But to anoint it you must first truly comprehend how much the Saviour has done for you. No one in a Laodicean state can, until we see ourselves as the sinners we are and realize the gift of God in Calvary we will but love little also. As you anoint others, you anoint the body and yourself, and as you anoint the body you anoint the head and the feet of Christ. What you do to the symbol you are doing to the reality of that symbol.

Let each individual member of the church feel that he is responsible in a large measure for the strength and prosperity of the church. While you do to the very utmost of your ability, God will as surely do his part, giving you divine enlightenment. God will work, and you must work to the same end to accomplish the same purpose, as faithful soldiers of an army work in harmony with the plans and purposes of their officers. Our will must be surrendered to the will of God. These churches that are small may be living, healthy, strong churches. – {RH September 27, 1887 Par. 22}

Do you love the Church?

One of the strongest evidences of true conversion is love to God and man. Those who accept Jesus as their Redeemer have a deep, sincere love for others of like precious faith. – {AA 262.3}

How we love the Church, the symbol, will tell for whether we love God and keep His commandments. Our very salvation is tied into it and the very salvation of our brothers and sisters is tied into it. Are you ready to love the Church and give yourself for it? Then take heed:

Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. – Ecclesiastes 9:8

Shall we truly give ourselves to belong, literally to belong to the church, loving the church, giving ourselves for it, giving ourselves to it, that we may be cleansed in this day of the cleansing of the sanctuary, with the washing of the water by the Word; that Christ may present it to Himself, as not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and without blemish? This is my prayer in Christ our Lord. Amen.

Br. Steven Caruana