"There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown" (Gen. 6:4).

The word translated giants in the King James Version and Nephilim in the American Standard Version is the Hebrew word nephiyl which means: "a bully or tyrant, giant, noted, renowned or notorious." The word nephiyl certainly fits the context of the passage for what is being discussed is the wickedness of men. "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Gen. 6:5). It was for this reason that God was destroying the earth and all in it with a flood.

When God brought the Israelites out of Egypt and into the land of Canaan, the people there were described as giants (nephilim, Num. 13:33); that is, they were notorious, tyrants, bullies. It was because of their wickedness that God was casting them out of the land and giving it to the Israelites. God told the children of Israel, "Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee" (Deut. 9:4).

The word giants does not appear to be speaking necessarily of a race of people. More appropriately it refers to the disposition of people. All who are tyrants, bullies, notorious, are referred to as nephilim, giants. Such people are renown, known, recognized for their evil and wicked behavior. For this reason, we read of them before the flood and after the flood. But the Bible is clear in saying that only eight people survived the flood (Gen. 7:23; 1 Peter 3:20). There obviously were no others. All living things were destroyed.

The world today is filled with people who have the same disposition of being giants in their evil, wicked, corrupt, immoral life-style. Though the righteous live in their midst, they do not partake of their evil. Like Lot, our righteous souls are vexed day by day (2 Peter 2:8).

--Garland M. Robinson

The very mention of Christ and the church in our title makes this a very vital and deeply fundamental topic.

Paul spoke of Christ and the church throughout his writings but in particular in the twin epistles of Ephesians and Colossians. The thrilling thrust of Ephesians is the church of Christ; the thrilling thrust of Colossians is the Christ of the church. Paul never sought to separate or sever Christ from the church or the church from Christ as many seek to do today by saying, "We are ready to say yes to Christ but no to his church." This would be like severing the head from the body, the king from the kingdom, the bridegroom from the bride, the temple builder from what he built, the vineyard owner from the vineyard and the blood from what it purchased.

In a strikingly beautiful and marvelously majestic passage Paul wrote, "This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church" (Eph. 5:32).

The Builder Of The Church. By way of predictive prophecy, Zechariah made mention of the Messiah who would build the temple of the Lord (Zech. 6:12,13). In that very meaningful and deeply colorful conversation held between Christ and the twelve in Caesarea Philippi, Jesus made mention of his full intent to build his church (Matt. 16:18).

The Head Of The Body Which Is The Church. Paul stresses this grand, marching truth in Ephesians 1:22,23; 5:23 and Colossians 1:18. This simply means that he is in the driver's seat in all matters pertaining to the church. Contrary to the thinking of the masses of our day, both inside the church and outside the church, men are Not free to add what they want, subtract what they dislike and substitute freely. Many are heard to say that we do not have authority for all we do in religion. Paul surely was not of this poisonous persuasion for he charged us to do all we do in the name (by the authority) of Jesus Christ (Col. 3:17). James says he is the lawgiver and he has bequeathed No legislative powers to any of us (4:12).

The Saviour Of The Church. The very name of Jesus means Saviour. The angel said to Joseph prior to the birth of the Babe of Bethlehem, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). His Messianic mission was built around the major thrust of seeking and saving the lost as per Luke 19:10 and Matthew 18:11. Luke informs us in Acts 2:47 that the Lord adds to the church daily such as are being saved. Paul writes in Ephesians 5:23, "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body." He saves people now who obey the Gospel. When he comes the second time he will save the faithful of his church and take them home to heaven on high.

The Foundation Of The Church. The context of Matthew 16:13-19 sets forth his Deity or the fundamental fact that he is Christ (the anointed one) the Son of the living God as the very rock upon which the Lord planned to build his church (Matt. 16:16,18). Paul states in crystal clear language in 1 Corinthians 3:11 that Christ is the one and only foundation and there is no other foundation that man dare lay.

The Purchaser Of The Church. In Acts 20:17ff Paul met with the Ephesian elders at Miletus. Among the many fine things stated in that monumental conversation is Paul's affirmation that Christ purchased the church with his blood. To minimize the church is to minimize the blood of Christ. To say the church is unimportant is to make the blood of Christ unimportant. To say that one can be saved without the church is the equivalent of saying that one can be saved without Christ's blood. Such passages as Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 9:22; 10:4; 13:20; Matthew 26:28 and 1 Peter 1:18,19 all stress the vast value and intense importance of Christ's precious blood.

The Great Cleanser And Purifier Of The Church. Paul's great passage in Ephesians 5:26,27 reads, "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."

The Great Examiner Of The Church. We see his role in this throughout the epistle directed to the seven churches of Asia in Revelation chapters two and three. To each one of them he said he knew. He appraised both the bad and good in each one. Most of them had a mixture of both good and bad; two of them had no evil reported by the Great Examiner. One of them had nothing to commend. We should ever keep in mind today that this same Great Head of the church is still in the business of examining his church.

The Great Lover Of The Church. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 5:25, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it...." This great chapter begins with another ardent allusion to the love of Christ for his people. We read in Ephesians 5:1,2, "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour." How is his love for the church described? It was a giving love, a revealed love, etc.

Next week, we will take a look at the different things by which the church is known.

1^st of 2 parts

Have you ever heard the unusual account of how the news of the battle of Waterloo reached England? The word was carried first by sailing ship to the southern coast. From there it was to be relayed by signal flags to London. When the report was received at Winchester, the flags on the cathedral began to spell it out: "Wellington defeated...." Before the message could be completed, however, a heavy fog moved in. Gloom filled the hearts of the people as the fragmentary news spread throughout the surrounding countryside. But when the mists began to lift, it became evident that the signals of Winchester Cathedral had really spelled out this triumphant message: "Wellington defeated the enemy!"

Some people need to read the rest of the report. They have become so overwhelmed by the circumstances they think defeat is inevitable. That is not so while God is on the throne. He is still in charge of every aspect of life in this universe.

"If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king" (Daniel 3:17).

--Glen Hitchcock

PRAYER REQUEST: Sunday, January 28, Bill Kimbrough asked for prayer to be a better example and influence.

GOSPEL MEETING: East Corinth, Feb. 25-March 3 with David Paden doing the preaching. 7pm each night. Lessons include: Sun. 9:45 The Christian Graces; 10:30 How to Make a Strong Church; 7pm A Formula for Success; Mon. What It Means to Be a Christian; Tues. Can I Know I Am Saved?; Wed. Is It Possible to Live a Faithful Christian Life?; Thur. Why I Cannot Give Up As a Christian; Fri. Why Christians Stop Being Faithful.

KIDS GET TOGETHER: Sunday night after services at Dairy Queen, February 18.

FOOD ITEM: Canned Meat

r SHUT-INS: Pauline Irvin, Nellie Wallace, Mary Dexter, Annie Nauman, Faye Jackson, Clydie Morrow, Frances Massengill, Doug Kimbrough, Sula Perry, Harry Prater, Lucille Leatherwood, Dorothy Johnson.

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise."

(Eph. 6:1-2)