What a mess man has made of the church!

The idea of “Church” is the idea of being called out by God. This would be some sort of spiritual event because it involves God. God would set the parameters. In what follows the church as God intended is presented. Not surprisingly it is much different than what man has made the church to be. Indeed the church is first spiritual but also has a physical component but even that part is governed by God. The church is never the building although a building can be used by the church to meet but in no way is a building necessary.

THE CHURCH, CONFUSION AND NECESSITY

Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
—Acts 20.28

To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be
made known by the church to the principalities and powers in
the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He
accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
—Ephesians 3.10-11

Importance of the Church

THERE IS A belief the “church” is not important. When one looks at the churches of the world, it is reasonable to conclude that the idea of a church may not be important. Indeed, there is no value in being involved with 99 percent of the world’s churches from a spiritual viewpoint, from an eternal viewpoint. You might as well belong to any number of organizations that do good works for others. It would be better to do charitable works through some nonreligious group since you would in no way be supporting error. However, it turns out that the church is important and you need to be a part of the true church. Yes, you have likely been taught the words “true church” represent some sort of bigotry. However, what is important is the truth. If there is a singular true church you ought to know and not just believe there is not because it is a popular idea. If you study this website you will understand that there is nothing more important than having a love of the truth because it is along those lines that God is testing you. The following five things indicate the exceptional importance of the true church:



1) The purpose of the church is spiritual, belonging to Jesus.

Matthew 16:18

18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Ephesians 1:20-23

20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

2) Can you see the importance of the church in the verse at the start of this chapter? Jesus died for the church, and the purchase price was His own blood. Now, is the church important?

Acts 20.28

28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Ephesians 5.25

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her



The church was in the eternal purpose of God.

Ephesians 3:10, 11

10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,



The church is the pillar and ground of truth.

1 Timothy 3:15

15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.



The church is where the saved are placed, added there by God.

Acts 2:47

47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

In all kindness unless you are in the church and remaining faithful (or have never sinned); you are not going to heaven. There is one church, and it belongs to Jesus. The church is the kingdom that Jesus spoke of during His ministry and it came into existence on the Pentecost after His death.

The Church Is the Kingdom

Much of the so-called Christian religious world does not understand that the church is the kingdom. Nonetheless, the scriptures clearly teach the church and kingdom as the same thing. The Old Testament foretells the church or kingdom and then Jesus declares it to be at hand during the later part of His lifetime. The apostles of Jesus were present when the kingdom (church) came into existence. The inspired writers of the New Testament speak of the church being in existence referring to it as the kingdom. It is not heaven, but it is the place where the saved are placed by God following their obedience. The church exists in two senses:

1) Universally God adds the obedient to the church. All Christians are in this church, the spiritual kingdom. Christ is the head.

John 18:36

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

Ephesians 5:23

23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

2) Locally, the place where you worship, having an organization and purpose defined by God. Those in the kingdom (universal) associate themselves with a local church. There is local leadership defined by God’s Word (elders):

Acts 14:23

23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Acts 20:28

28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

THE CHURCH BEGINS EXACTLY AS PLANNED

The church began on the day of Pentecost after the death of Christ. It was after Jesus had appeared various times to the disciples and after the apostles saw Jesus rise in the sky. On this day, prophecies would come to pass. People can become a part of the Lord’s church today, just as they did that first day for the church, that first day for the kingdom.

If there is any question about the church being the kingdom Jesus spoke of, please consider the link below:

Clarifying the Church as the Kingdom