Everyone wants to belong. Life is difficult without human companionship.
Ecclesiastes 4:9 We need each other.
Salvation makes us right with God and places is in His church.
A foundational principle is that the Bible is the ultimate authority.
The Church is the Body of Christ
It includes all the members; it is not the building. Everyone in the building is not the church. One location is not the whole church.
Who is the founder of the church?
Large successful companies have a founder.
Hebrews 12:22,23,24 The church is founded by Christ. He started it. If any man says he is starting a church, it isn’t of God.
Hebrews 3:3,4 Jesus was more worthy than Moses.
Acts 20:28 Christ purchased and founded the church.
Matthew 16:18 Jesus is the rock the church is built on.
When was the church built?
Jesus talked about the future.
Ephesians 2:20,21,22 The church is being built.
Acts 2:1,14,38,39,40,41,42,43,44 The church was started at the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit anointed, and a revival happened.
Ephesians 4:16 Everyone was compacted, working together in unity. In the early church, preaching the gospel was the priority and they were excited and not concerned about personal wellbeing.
A religious body that doesn’t follow God's principals as found in the Bible, is not God’s church.
Who is the foundation?
Christ is the foundation. We must build on Christ.
Who is the head of the church?
Christ is more than the CEO; he directs all business and gives the direction and rules for the “business.”
Corporations and religious organizations creates creeds, but God should be the founder and lawgiver. There is only one head and one body.
What is the door of the church?
Any organization or religion that has a different way to let a member into the body is not part of God's church.
Who are members of the church?
1 Corinthians 12:13 Everyone enters the church the same way: salvation. If someone creates a different way, it isn’t God's way. The Bible doesn’t describe a formal process for adding members.
There are rules to be in God’s church
1 John 3:8,9,10 Members of God's church do not sin.
God only has one church.
