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Upon Peter's confession of faith that Jesus was the Christ Jesus replied that this fact was the rock upon which He would build His church
(Matthew 16:16-18) And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
As you read the passage, you get the idea that Jesus thought that He was announcing something of great importance: "I will build My church".
The word "church" in the Bible never refers to any kind of physical building, denomination or group of denominations or to any kind of human religious hierarchy. The church which Jesus built is a spiritual building made up of redeemed people. Its foundation is the fact of Jesus' identity as God's Son and the gospel is the tool used to build it
(Romans 1:16) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
(2 Thessalonians 2:14) Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The term "church" is a collective noun like the words "flock" or "crowd" and is made up of multiple parts. The church is made up of all people who have answered God's call. They have been redeemed from sin by the blood of Christ. The church consists of all people who are disciples of Jesus.
(Acts 8:3) As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
(Acts 9:1) And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
The word translated "church" simply means "called out". Those who make up the church have been "set apart" or "sanctified". All disciples are called "saints".
(Acts 9:13) Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
(1 Corinthians 1:2) Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
The answer to the age-old question "must one be a member of the church to be saved?" becomes obvious when one realizes that the church is the saved and the saved are the church; those who have been purchased by the blood of Christ.
(Acts 20:28) Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Notice that the word "church" is used in both a local as well as general sense in the Bible. In the local sense it refers to the saved at a particular city or place who have joined together to work and worship
(Romans 16:1) I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
(Romans 16:5) Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
(Romans 16:16) Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
The Bible shows that these groups of people are locally organized and independent of one another. But in the general sense there is only one church made up of faithful disciples everywhere. Most of the references that we will consider use the term in the general sense.
We can see the high value God places on His church by the terms He has chosen to describe it. He refers to the church as His family or household
(Ephesians 2:19-20) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Members of the church are part of Christ's Kingdom
(Colossians 1:13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
They are referred to as members of Christ's body over which Jesus is the Head
(Ephesians 1:22-23) And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Since God dwells in His church it is also called His temple
(1 Corinthians 3:16) Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
See how important the church is? If it is important to you to be a child in God's family, a citizen of His kingdom, a member of Christ's body and for God to dwell in you, then it will be equally important to be a member of the church of Christ!
Jesus is the center of God's purpose. When we see His special relationship to His church we will also learn more of the church's importance.
Jesus gave Himself up for the church and loves His church
(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.
The church has always been a part of God's plan to bring about eternal redemption through His Son. Far be it from us to dismiss it as not essential
(Ephesians 3:9-11) And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
The purpose of the church is to bring glory to God. "To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations..."
(Ephesians 3:21) Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
The church sounds forth the word of the Lord
(1 Thessalonians 1:8) For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
When the local church assembles it is for the encouragement of its members
(Hebrews 10:24-25) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
The church must not fail to uphold the truth
(1 Timothy 3:15) But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
It seems today as if many churches are engaged in about whatever business you can imagine. It is time to get back to the basics!
Jesus prayed for His disciples' unity. However, it was not to be unity at any cost! It was to be based upon a mutual acceptance of His word. It was to be the kind of oneness that Jesus had with His Father
(John 17:11) And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
(John 17:17) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Did you know that religious division and the things which cause it are strongly spoken against in the Bible? Some think it is fine to have so many differing denominations with various creeds, organizations and leaders. The word "denomination" means "division" and while having so many offers us a greater selection it does not please God and that ought to be our foremost priority! What does God think about this division?
(1 Corinthians 1:10-13) Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
How many faiths, religious bodies and so forth can we have and still find God's approval? Only one!
(Ephesians 4:4-6) There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
The fact that men became religiously divided did not surprise God. He forsaw it
(1 Timothy 4:1-3) Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
When the Bible speaks of a group of God's children in fellowship with one another as a church, it does so in a local sense. When they could, Christians in the first century joined or associated themselves with a local church
(Acts 9:26) And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
This was and is God's will.
But not every local church is pleasing to God. Even in the New Testament some churches were warned that if they did not return to the way of the Lord that He would refuse to recognize them any longer
(Revelation 2:5) Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
We must exercise care in identifying with a local church.
Of which church should you be a member? It is according to what your purpose is. If it is to please God, then you will insist upon a church that accepts Jesus' authority in all matters because it recognizes Him as its only Head. It will recognize no church law other than His. It will involve itself only in those works that the Lord has given to it. According to Jesus, anything less renders worship vain and separates one from God
(Matthew 15:9) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
(2 John 1:9) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
LESSON #10 is entitled "KEPT BY GOD'S POWER". It concludes this series by looking at how
Jesus gives hope to His disciples. We will see the need for endurance and consider God's
warnings about falling away. We will also discuss the wonderful security in Christ.
QUESTIONS FOR LESSON NINE