The Spirit's Presence: Foundation of the Eternal Church

Christ promised His perpetual presence with the Church unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:20). This distinguishes His Church from every other society—without Christ present, there is no Church. A building without foundation, however glorious in appearance, falls the soonest.

Christ's presence operates principally through His Spirit (John 14-16). The Spirit is Christ's sole vicar; outward ordinances are pledges and instruments of His presence, not His whole presence. To reduce Christ to ordinances alone leaves the Church no better than Jewish formalism.

The Spirit's presence is guaranteed by an everlasting covenant (Isaiah 59:21). From this flows the gospel ministry as "the ministry of the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:6-8). History knows but two ministrations: one "of the letter and of death" (the Law), another "of the Spirit and of life" (the Gospel). Any other is antichrist's.

The Spirit furnishes the Church's ministers with charisma—spiritual gifts enabling faithful administration of gospel ordinances to Christ's glory and the Church's edification (Galatians 3:2). So long as gospel preaching continues, the Spirit's communication persists.

God promised Christ an eternal kingdom and Church (Psalm 72:17; Isaiah 9:7; Matthew 16:18). This accomplishment depends wholly upon the Spirit's operations—both internal saving grace and spiritual abilities for ministry. Should either cease, the Church must cease. Yet the Spirit remains, faithful and operative, until the end.