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The phrase, "The Lord's church" is uttered by many but believed by few.
Most denominational folks who attend services on a regular basis would
argue that the congregation that they attend is "the Lord's church." Yet,
these people are aware that many different religious bodies exist. The
thinking is that all sincere members of differing denominational bodies are
members of "the Lord's church."
One question needs to be given careful consideration. Do you believe one must be a member of the Lord's church to be a Christian? Many would probably answer in the affirmative because they believe themselves to be Christians and the religious group they have "joined" to be the Lord's church. But only one church can be the church of our Lord — the church he promised to build and the church he purchased with his own blood! In Matthew 16:18, the Lord said, "I will build my church." Who will build the Lord's church? Man or the Lord? Whose church is it? Man's or the Lord's? The Lord clearly states that he will build his church. When did the Lord establish or build his church? The kingdom was to come with power (Mark 9:1) and was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost in A.D. 33. (Acts 1:6-8; 2:1-4). The words "church" and "kingdom" are used interchangeably in the New Testament. Christ spoke to his apostles about "the things concerning the kingdom of God." (Acts 1:3). Philip preached "good tidings concerning the kingdom of God." (Acts 8:12). Paul and Barnabas taught "that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22). The Lord himself used the words "kingdom" and "church" interchangeably when he said, "And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven..." (Matt. 16:18-19 — emphasis mine, MLW). The kingdom, or church, had its beginning in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost in A.D. 33. Denominationalism or Protestantism did not have its beginning until the 16th century! Thus, religious bodies that had their beginnings after 33 A.D. cannot be the Lord's church. A new congregation may begin meeting in some part of the world, but it will pattern itself after the New Testament church established by the Lord. It is not, then, a new organization, but a replica of the church of the first century. In 1 Corinthians 3:11, Paul says, "For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." How can a denominational church be "the Lord's church" when its founder is not the Lord? People may be sincere who are worshipping in man-made churches, but they worship in vain because they are "teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matt. 15:9). Long ago, God's word said, "Except Jehovah build the house, They labor in vain that build it..." (Psa. 127:1). Jesus himself told the religious leaders of his day that, "Every plant which my heavenly Father planted not, shall be rooted up." (Matt. 15:13). Christ never promised to build but one church. (Matt. 16:18). He did exactly what he promised and thus the apostle Paul could say to the Ephesian elders, "Take heed unto yourselves and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood." (Acts 20:28). "The Lord's church" is blood bought and the only church that Christ promised to save. He is the Savior of the body. (Eph. 5:23). In Ephesians 1:22-23 we see that the church is the body, as Paul writes, "he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all." The same apostle preached to the Ephesians that there is only "one body." (Eph. 4:4). Thus, the head of the church (Christ) does not have many different bodies, as denominationalism claims. Jesus' prayer shortly before his death was that "they all may be one." (John 17:21). Man-made churches are forever condemned in First Corinthians 1:10-13. Yes, one must be a member of the Lord's church to be a Christian, but just because a religious group is called the "Lord's church" does not make it so. |