THE CHURCH THAT JESUS BUILT
While Jesus Christ walked the earth He stated, “ I
will build my church” ( Matthew 16:18 ). In Ephesians
4:4 we learn that “there is one body” while from
Colossians 1:18 we read that Christ “ is the head of
the body, the church .” My church . One body. The
body. The church. All of these terms are singular
indicating that there is only ONE. Yet in today’s
world there are thousands of churches all teaching
different doctrines. This one says you must be
baptized – that one says you don’t. Some tell you
to worship on Sunday – others on Saturday or
perhaps not at all. It can be a mass of confusion.
But God does not create confusion. He also does
not accept people worshipping in man-made
churches rather than the one Jesus died for. If we
want to be pleasing to God then we need to know
more about the church that Jesus built.
1. Know what it is -
A. The word “church” comes from the Greek
word that means
those who are “called out.”
B. The church is the Body of Christ ( Colossians
1:18 ).
C. The church is the Bride of Christ (Ephesians
5:22-27 ).
D. The church is the Family of God ( I Timothy
3:15 ).
E. The church is the Pillar and Ground of Truth (I
Timothy 3:15 ).
2. Know the Founder -
A. Jesus promised to build His church ( Matthew
16:18).
B. Jesus purchased the church with His blood
(Acts 20:28 ).
C. Jesus is the Head of the church ( Colossians
1:18 ).
D. The church is His spiritual body ( Colossians
1:18 ).
3. Know when it began -
A. It was promised in the last days of Jerusalem
(Isaiah 2:2-4 ).
B. The church was near in John’s day ( Matthew
3:1,2 ).
C. Jesus told His disciples that they should not
taste of death till
they see the Kingdom of God come with
power ( Mark 9:1 ).
D. They were told that they would receive that
power when the
Holy Spirit came upon them ( Acts 1:8 ).
E. All these things came to pass on Pentecost
(Acts 2).
4. Know how it is described -
A. The Church of the Lord (Acts 20:28 ).
B. The Church of God ( I Corinthians 1:1,2 ).
C. The Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12 ).
D. The Church of Christ ( Romans 16:16 ).
5. Know what God offers there -
A. Forgiveness of sins is in the Church
(Ephesians 1:17 ).
B. Salvation is in the Church (2 Timothy 2:10 ).
C. Redemption is in the Church ( Colossians 1:14 ).
D. All spiritual blessings are in the Church
(Ephesians 1:3 ).
E. The saved are in the Church ( Acts 2:47 ).
6. Know how it worships -
A. The Church sings ( Ephesians 5:19 ; Colossians
3:16 ).
B. The Church prays (I Thessalonians 5:17 ; Luke
18:1 ).
C. The Church gives ( I Corinthians 16:1,2 ; Acts
20:35).
D. The Church teaches (2 Timothy 2:2 ; Acts 20:7 ).
E. The Church communes with our Lord (Acts
20:7 ; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 ).
