There are many organizations in this world which take the name church, but the Bible teaches that there is only one church of Jesus Christ, made up of all who trust in Him alone for salvation. Local churches which teach God's Word and administer Baptism and the Lord's Supper according to Christ's institution are rightly called churches because believers and members of Christ's one true church are found wherever God's Word is preached in its truth and purity and the Sacraments (Baptism and the Lord's Supper) are administered according to Christ's institution.
When Jesus asked His disciples who they believed Him to be, Simon Peter answered for them all: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). "And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:17-18). Not upon Peter (Petros), but upon the rock of Peter's confession (petra) Jesus promised to build His church, promising that the gates of hell would never overcome her.
The Scriptures also say in 1 Peter 2:4-6: "To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded."
In Ephesians 2:8-22, we read: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Cf. Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23-32; Romans 12:4-5; 8:9).
Thus, all who are graciously brought to faith in Jesus as their Messiah and Savior are brought into this one church (ekklesia, the Greek word for church, literally refers to an assembly of those called out) and temple made up of believers in Christ Jesus. As there is only "one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:4-6), so there is only one holy catholic (meaning "universal" and not the Roman Catholic Church or any other denomination) church made up of those who are counted holy and righteous through faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice upon the cross. This Church is made up only of true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ -- of those who have despaired of their own righteousness before God and are called out of this world to faith that God is gracious to them and forgives all their sins and counts them righteous and holy for the sake of Jesus Christ and His redemptive work on the cross (Philippians 3:8-9).
This church is invisible, in that God only, and not man, can see faith in the heart. "The Lord knoweth them that are his" (2 Timothy 2:19; cf. 1 Samuel 16:7; Luke 17:20-21).
Nevertheless, the Holy Christian Church does and will continue to exist in this world wherever the saving Gospel is still in use, for God's Word will not return to Him without accomplishing His purpose. The Bible says in Isaiah 55:10-11: "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" (cf. Matthew 16:18; 1 Kings 19:8-18; Romans 1:16-17). The Bible also tells us in Romans 10:17 that "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Westside Eagle Observer and also the pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Rogers. He may be contacted by email at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
General News on 10/05/2016