“THE CHURCH JESUS
BUILT”
The church we read about in the New Testament is alive and well. Jesus promised
to build His church (Matthew 16:18) and recorded in Acts 2, we read of that
promise being fulfilled.
“And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved”
(Acts 2:47).
Those being saved and thus added to the church were they who “heard”
the Word of God, “were pricked in their heart” (Acts 2:37), repented
of their past sins and were baptized (Acts 2:38).
The Bible teaches that salvation is “in Christ” (2 Timothy. 2:10)
and that there is only one way to get “into Christ.” “For
as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians
3:27).
The Bible also teaches that being in Christ, or in His body, is the same as
being in the church (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18).
Since there is only one body (Ephesians 4:4), then there is only one church.
Therefore, salvation is found only in the church of which we read about in the
New Testament – Christ’s church. With this knowledge, it is imperative
that we be able to recognize that one church today and know how God adds individuals
to that body.
The church Jesus built is easily recognizable.
First, the church Jesus built wears His name. The churches of Christ salute
you” (Romans 16:16).
Second, the church Jesus built can be recognized by Scriptural worship. God
authorizes five acts of worship: singing (Ephesians 5:19), praying (Acts
16:25), teaching/preaching 2 Timothy 4:2), partaking the Lord’s supper
(Acts 20:7), and giving (1 Corinthians 16:2).
In addition, the church Jesus built does not use mechanical instruments of music
in worship (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16) and partakes of the Lord’s
supper every Sunday (Acts 20:7). A church which uses mechanical instruments
of music in worship or partakes of the Lord’s supper on days other than
Sunday (or only on “special” Sundays) is therefore NOT the church
Jesus built.
Third, the church Jesus built teaches the Scriptural plan of salvation. The
Bible teaches that one is saved by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17), believing
(Hebrews 11:6), repenting of past sins (Luke 13:3), confessing that Jesus is
the Christ (Acts 8:37), being baptized into Christ to have past sins forgiven
(Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21), and living faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10;
1 John 1:6-10). A church which teaches some other plan is therefore NOT the
church Jesus built. The church Jesus built does not teach that one is saved
by faith only (James 2:24), that one can do nothing whatsoever to save himself
(Acts 2:40), nor that one can say a “sinner’s prayer” in order
to be saved (John 9:31). A church teaching any of these false doctrines is therefore
NOT the
church Jesus built.
Since salvation is only in the church of Christ, it is important to make sure
that we are members of that one body. God reveals to us, in His Word, how to
recognize His church and how to be added to that body. Thanks be to God for
giving “us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the
knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3).
By Brad Green
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