Why Is The Church Special?

Q

Why is the Church special? We are the only group that is securely saved. The old testament believers, tribulation believers, and millennial believers will all have to provide evidence of their faith to remain saved. Why are only we so blessed?

A

I’ve answered similar questions before but it bears repeating. Before the age of the Church, God regularly made His presence known through various signs. For example, no matter which way the wind was blowing or how strong it was, smoke from the Temple altar always rose straight into heaven. And each year during the Yom Kippur ceremony the scapegoat was tied to the Temple door by a scarlet ribbon. When the High Priest cut the ribbon and released the goat to be killed in the wilderness for the sins of the people part of it remained on the door. As the goat died the ribbon on the door turned from red to white fulfilling Isaiah 1:18 “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow.”

But during the Church Age, there have been no ongoing public signs similar to these. In John 20:24-29 we read about Thomas seeing the resurrected Lord and touching his wounds. Only then did he believe. Jesus said, “Because you have seen me you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” He was speaking of the Church, saying we would receive special blessings for believing solely by faith.