Articles
The Lord's Church (2)
Countless churches have been devised and created by men. However, I would like to focus our attention upon the Church we read about in the Bible, the Lord’s Church.
We already noticed that the Lord’s Church was according to God’s eternal purpose (Eph. 3:11). Its establishment was prophesied in great detail hundreds of years prior by God’s faithful prophets (Isa. 2:1-4; Dan. 2:44-45). Jesus revealed that His kingdom (church) would come with power and be established in the lifetime of His disciples (Mark 9:1). We read of the fulfillment of these prophecies in Acts 2:1-47 on the Day of Pentecost.
In Matthew chapter 16 Jesus “asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’ So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against’” (Matt. 16:13-18).
Notice Jesus promised to build His (MY) Church. The Church belongs to Christ because He is the One that built it. Paul wrote, “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (I Cor. 3:11).
We begin to understand the importance and value of the Lord’s Church when we realize that it was purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ (Acts 20:28). He is the “Savior of the body” (Eph. 5:23) since He gave His life for her (Eph. 5:25). How foolish of those who suggest that the Church is really not all that important!
Furthermore, since the Church belongs to Christ, “He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Col. 1:18). And there is only ONE head of the Church, Christ. He is the One who has ALL authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18).
Also please notice that Jesus said “My CHURCH.” The Lord only promised to build ONE Church, not hundreds, or even two. The New Testament teaches us that there is only “one body,” or one Church (Eph. 4:4; 1:22-23).
I realize this is very controversial to say, but it’s the truth according to the inspired Word of God – Jesus Christ only built one Church, His Church. Do you belong to it?
