What Or Who Is The House Of God? A____ wrote: Dear mike, I know that the House of God is the pillar and ground of truth, but who exactly is this church, this house of God? Is this the few chosen? Is there any way you can show me this in scripture, as I struggle to answer this question. I'm unable to find much on it, except for the reference in Genesis about the pillar and the one in which the house of God is the pillar of truth. I would greatly appreciate it if you could do this for me, and I hope it's not too much time for you. If you've written an article about it, or answered it in a prior email, please feel free to link me to it, as I have looked but been unable to find it. Perhaps the Lord wills for me now to remain blind as to what this house of God is, but perhaps through you He has found it time to remove my blindness to this. I pray this be the case. God bless, and I await your response, A____ Hi A____, Yes, indeed "the church of God is the pillar and ground of the Truth." But God symbolically has two wives which means he has two churches: Gal 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. Gal 4:23 But he [who was] of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman [was] by promise. Gal 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. Gal 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. Gal 4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, [thou] barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. Gal 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. Gal 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit, even so [it is] now. Gal 4:30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. Gal 4:31 So then, brethren, we [Gentile Galatians] are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. "Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar."
Now to demonstrate just how impossible it is for the natural man to conceive of God having two wives just ask any one who is this 'Agar?" Invariably the natural man thinks that 'Agar,' or Hagar, is those who withstand today's modern nation of Israel. But that is not what Paul is teaching us. That is a doctrine of men. Hagar is "Jereusalem which now is and is in bondage with her children." Gal 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. We are told in the preceding chapter that if we are in Christ we are Abraham's seed: Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. But chapter three is not all there is to the book of Galatians and "it is the sum of God's Word" which constitutes Truth: Psa 119:160 The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting. (NASB) With that in mind we find that Abraham's seed consists of the descendants of two different women. What throws the natural man is that the bondwoman, Hagar is used to typify the obvious outward church of Paul's day: Gal 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. Gal 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh ; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Gal 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. Gal 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. It is those who appear outwardly to be God's children who are not "the children of God:" Paul goes on in this very chapter to tell us that WE Gentiles are now "as Isaac, children of promise." Gal 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. This is what is denied in the "Messianic Jewish Movement" and all of orthodox Christianity today. Whereas both Christ and Paul declared that the flesh profited nothing, and that physical Jews aren't even to be counted as being Jews, all of orthodox Christianity and the Messianic Jewish Christian church, declare just the opposite: John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: Rom 9:7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, in Isaac shall thy seed be called. Rom 9:8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. Now if it is true that "many are called but few are chosen" who, then is left to be God's true church:
Matt 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen. I received a letter from a lady yesterday who said that I taught that only those who fellowship with iswasandwillbe are God's elect. Of course she didn't quote anything I have ever written or said on tape or in public because there is no such statement. God has His 7000 of whom I am no more aware of than was Elijah when God told him about His symbolic 7000 who had "not bowed the knee to Baal." 1 Kings 19:18 Yet I have left [me] seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. Now that, I have written and taught many times. God dwells in that symbolic 7000. That is the true "house of God." 1 Pet 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 7,000 is the symbol used to describe the "is" "house of God." The symbol for all men of all time who make up that house is 144,000. Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. (For proof that this has nothing to do with the physical tribes of physical Israel, read Who Are The 144,000?) God dwells in His people, where he has them scattered. And they are indeed scattered. These words are truer today than they have ever been: Matt 26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. It is interesting to note that the churches of the New Testament met in peoples homes and even in a school. There is not one mention of a church building. Paul went into the synagogues to evangelize, but the New Testament churches were in the homes of His converts: Rom 16:3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Rom 16:4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Rom 16:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. Act 19:9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. I hope that this helps you to see that God's house is "a spiritual house," not an organization of men who meet in a building made by hands. God's house is in His elect, who only He knows. Mike