by Jerry W. Joseph
When the question is asked, "What is the church?", many would respond
by saying, "Which church are you talking about?" We realize there does
exist hundreds of different religious groups in this world. Many of which
claiming to have some attachment to the church of the Bible. When we speak
of the church, we have reference to the church that one can read about
in the Bible.
BUILDER IS CHRIST
Christ is the builder of the church that you read about in the Bible.
In Matthew 16:18, Christ declared, "Upon this rock, I will build my church."
The church belongs to Christ. He is the foundation upon which it is built
(1 Corinthians 3:11). Dear reader, did Christ build the church of which
you are a member? Is the church that you are a member of built by man or
Christ? You need to be a member of the church built by Christ, His church.
BEGINNING OF THE CHURCH WAS IN JERUSALEM
The church that you read about in the Bible began in the city of
Jerusalem, on the day of Pentecost following the ascension of our Lord.
This was in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies (Isaiah 2:1-4; Daniel
2:44; Joel 2). These prophecies were fulfilled in Acts 2. Dear reader,
is the church of which you are a member, have its beginning in Jerusalem
as recorded in Acts 2? If not, then you are not a member of the church
that you read about in the Bible.
BIBLE BASED
The church that you read about in the Bible is Bible based. The
Word of God is the pattern that is to be followed in all things (2 Timothy
3:16-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:21). Everything that the church does must be
based upon what God has said in His Word. When it comes to the (1) Way
of salvation (John 14:6; John 8:24; Luke 13:3; Matthew 10:32-33; Mark 16:16);
(2) Worship (John 4:24; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 5:19; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians
16:1-2; 2 Timothy 4:2-4), (3) Work of the church (Matthew 28:18-20; Galatians
6:2, 10; James 1:27; 2 Timothy 4:2-4), (4) Way of life for the members
of the church (Titus 2:11-12; Galatians 5:19-23; 1 John 2:15-17; Colossians
3:1-3; Matthew 6:33), the Bible has the only answer and it must be followed
completely. Dear reader, is the church of which you are a member has the
Bible as its only guide and standard of authority
BOUND FOR HEAVEN
The church that you read about in the Bible is the body of Christ
(Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 4:4), bride of Christ (Romans 7:1-4; Revelation
19:7-8), family of God (Galatians 3:26-28), kingdom (Colossians 1:13) and
the saved (Acts 2:47). Dear reader, don't you want to be a member of the
church that you can read about in the Bible, because it is Heaven-Bound
(Ephesians 5:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).
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