Jesus said, “I will build My church,” and with that clear statement, denoted the value and the identity of His church (Matt. 16:18). He said He would build His church upon the foundational truth confessed by Peter, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:18, 16). Jesus emphasized His superior power to build His church when He said, “The gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Even His death would not prevent Him from building His church. Indeed, His death and resurrection showed Jesus to be the Son of God (Rom. 1:4). Jesus built His church due to the redemptive power of His death (Acts 20:28; 2:32-41). The gospel calls the lost to salvation, and Jesus adds to His church those saved by it (Acts 2:47).

Consider some of the simple, profound truths about the church Jesus built:

1. The church of Christ belongs to Christ. The church does not belong to the elders, members, or anyone else. It is the body of (that belongs to) Christ, not the body of (that belongs to) men (Eph. 1:22-23).

2. The church of Christ consists of the redeemed. The word “church” means the called out (ones). The gospel calls sinners out of sin’s darkness and death into God’s light of salvation (1 Pet. 2:9-10). The church of Christ is those who answer the gospel call of salvation by obeying Jesus (1 Pet. 1:22-23).

3. The church of Christ is valuable to God. The Son of God purchased the church with His blood (Acts 20:28). Those who say the church is unimportant fail to value Jesus’s death (Eph. 5:25-27).

4. The church of Christ is composed of Christians. The church is not an amalgamation of churches. Each Christian is a living stone in God’s spiritual house, the church (1 Pet. 2:5). Christ adds saved people to the church of Christ (Acts 2:47).

5. The church of Christ is not a denomination of churches. Denominations are not in the Bible. They only appeared on the religious landscape because men left the pattern of sound words to cling to false doctrines and false organizations (1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 1:13; 3:16-17). There is “one body” (“one church”) of Christ, not many (Eph. 4:4).

6. Men did not build the church of Christ. Only Jesus purchased the church (Acts 20:28). Only Jesus is its builder and head (Eph. 1:22-23; 1 Pet. 1:18-19). Man cannot improve on the church Jesus built.

7. Christ will add you to the church of Christ when He saves you from your sins (Acts 2:47). Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). Jesus saves believers who repent and are baptized (Acts 2:37-38, 40-41, 47). Unless you have done so, you are not in the church of Christ. You remain lost in your sins. Believe and obey Jesus, be saved, and be added by Him to His church (1 Cor. 12:13).

 The Spirit’s Sword, May 28, 2023