“And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18, ASV).
WHAT IS THE CHURCH?
- The word church comes from “ekklesia” which means the called out (Thayer).
- It is the body of Christ (Colossians. 1:18).
- It is the family of God (I Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:19).
- It is the kingdom of God and Christ (Ephesians 5:5).
- It is the pillar and ground at the truth (1 Tim. 3:15).
WHAT IS IT CALLED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT?
- My (the Lord’s) church (Mat 16:18).
- The church (Acts 8:1).
- The church of the Lord (Acts 20:28).
- The church of God (I Corinthians 1:1, 2)
- The churches of Christ (Romans 16:16).
- The body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12).
- The church of the firstborn (Hebrews 12:23).
WHAT ARE THE MEMBERS CALLED?
- Disciples (Acts 20:7).
- Saints (I Corinthians 1:2).
- Beloved of God (Romans 1:7).
- Brethren (Col.ossians1:2).
- Sons of God (Romans 8:14).
- Children of God (I John 3:1).
- Heirs of God (Romans 8:17).
- Royal Priesthood (I Peter 2:9).
- Christians (Acts 11:26, 1 Peter 4:16).
Are You Wearing These Scriptural Names Only?
WHEN WAS THE CHURCH ESTABLISHED?
- In the last days in Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-4).
- In the days of these Kings (Daniel 2:44).
- It was “at hand” in John’s day (Matthew 3:1-2).
- The disciples prayed for its coming (Matthew 6:9-10).
- Christ said: “I will build” it (Matthew 16:18).
- It was to come during the lifetime of some of the disciples
- (Mark 9:1).
- The disciples had not entered it [before the death, burial, and resurrection of the Christ and Acts 2] (Matthew 18:3).
- Just before his death Christ said: “The kingdom of God shall come” (Luke 22:18).
- The kingdom was to come with power (Mark 9:1). The power was to come when the Spirit came (Acts 1:8).
- All of these requirements were fulfilled on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ (Acts 2:1-4).
HOW CAN ONE ENTER THE CHURCH?
- Hear the gospel of Christ (Romans10:13-17).
- Believe in Christ (Acts 16:31).
- Repent of past sins (Luke 24:47; Acts 17:30).
- Confess faith in Christ (Romans 10:8-10).
- Be baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3). Thus, one is born into the family of God (John 3:5).
WHAT CONSTITUTES BAPTISM?
- Water (Matthew 3:11).
- Much water (John 3:23).
- Going down into the water (Acts 8:38).
- A burial and a resurrection (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12).
- Coming up out of the water (Acts 8:39; Matthew 3:16).
Are You A Member of New Testament Church?
WHERE IS SALVATION?
- Salvation is in Christ’s church, because it is the blood bought institution (Acts 20: 28; I Corinthians 6:20).
- Salvation is in the church, for Paul affirmed that Christ would save the church (Ephesians 5:23). No promise to those outside.
- Salvation is in the church, for it is there that man is reconciled unto God (Ephesians 2:16). Man must be reconciled to God.
- Salvation is in the church, because that is the group that Christ will present unto Himself. (Ephesians 5:27)
- Man cannot be saved out of the church, because God adds all the saved to it (Acts 2:47). The requirements of salvation and church membership are the same.
- The church is the family of God and certainly one cannot be saved out of God’s family (I Timothy 3:15). To say that God has children out of His family would be to charge Him with spiritual adultery.
- Take the children of Israel as a type: (I Corinthians 10:2-6).
- Crossing the Red Sea was a type of baptism (I Corinthians 10:2).
- Israel in the wilderness was a type of the church (Acts 7:38).
- Crossing the Jordan River was a type of death.
- The land of Canaan was a type of heaven.
- They had to pass through the wilderness [a time of proving Deuteronomy 8:1-3] (church) to get into Canaan (heaven).
- Therefore, we must pass through the church to enter heaven at last.
Are You Seeking Salvation in the Right Place?
WHAT IS IN CHRIST – THE CHURCH?
- Forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7).
- Salvation (II Timothy 2:10).
- Redemption (Colossians 1:14).
- The grace of God (II Timothy 2:1).
- All the promises of God (II Corinthians 1:20).
- All spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3).
Can one be saved without these blessings? They are all in Him, His body, the church. (Ephesians 1:22, 23; Colossians 1:18) How then does one get into Christ where these blessings can be enjoyed (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27)?
(above adapted by John Rose from a tract)