The Church

Introduction

The Bible does not recognize any visible church on earth as "the Church."

The Church which is the body consist of all regenerated souls, each one redeemed by the Blood of Christ and transformed by the Holy Spirit.
Only a small part of the Church is on earth for a great part have already gone to be with the Lord.
The Church has no visible head on earth but an unseen Head (Christ) in heaven.
Christ gave His life that He might found the Church. Ephesians 5:25
"...as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it."
The supreme work of God in this age is gathering of the Church.
Acts 15:14 "...God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name." These chosen people are baptized into Christ's body (Church).

Conditions of Membership in the Church

1. Repentance, Acts 2:38, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent," at Pentecost.
2. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord and Son of God, Matthew 16:16- 18.
3. Salvation, regeneration, the new birth, Acts 2:47, the saved added to the Church. They were not added to the Church in order to be saved but added to the church because they were saved already. (A member of the invisible Church becoming a member of the earthly visible Church.)
4. Baptism in the name of Trinity, Acts 2:38, "...repent and be baptized..." Matthew 28:19: Acts 10:47, 48; Acts 22:16.
5. Continuance in the Apostles' doctrine. Acts 2:42 "And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles' doctrine." They lived according to the Scripture.

The Purpose of the Church

1. To worship God and to glorify Him on the earth.
Ephesians 1:4-6 "...to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved."
2. To evangelize the world with the Gospel. Matthew 28:19, 20 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations." Mark 16:15. See also Ephesians 3:8.
3. To teach and instruct Christians. Ephesians 4:11- 15 "...for the perfecting of the saints..." 1 Thessalonians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 12:1- 31.
4. To witness constantly. Acts 1:8 "...witness in Jerusalem... Judea... Samaria..."


Conclusion

Why there so many denominations? Each is probably like a variety of fruit and it takes many varieties to make an orchard. (Many spokes to make a wheel). Christ's desire is that the Church on earth should be clean, glorious and holy, Ephesians 5:27 "That He might present it (the Church) to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it (you and I) should be holy and without blemish."

Source: One hundred Bible Lessons
By: Alban Douglas