The Bible is the word of God, and it’s the final authority on everything that matters in life—including what makes a church true. In this article, we’ll look at what the Bible says about being a follower of Jesus Christ, and how that relates to being part of His church.
The word “church” (Greek ekklesia) appears more than 100 times in the New Testament. Jesus represents the true church. The church is made of people, not a building. The word “church” is never used to refer to a denominational system of things. The Greek word for church literally means “assembly” or “called out ones.” Jesus purchased the church by His blood (Acts 20:28). The church was established on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). The head of the church is Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:23). There is only one true church, with no apostasies
The Word “church” (greek Ekklesia) Appears More than 100 Times in The New Testament.
The word “church” (Greek ekklesia) appears more than 100 times in the New Testament. It is used to describe the people of God, but not a denominational system of things. Jesus is THE church; He represents it and we are part of it as believers.
There are many denominations today that use “church” in their name, such as Baptist Church or Methodist Church, but these terms do not represent the true biblical meaning of ekklesia. These names were chosen by men because they wanted to identify themselves with those who followed them or those who taught from their perspective on doctrine and practice. However, Jesus said His followers would be called sheep (John 10:16). Sheep have no need for leaders other than their Shepherd because they follow Him by instinctual means rather than through human reasoning (John 10:27-29).
Jesus Represents the True Church.
Jesus is the head of the church, and He represents it. In Ephesians 5:23, Paul says that Christ is “the head of the body, the church” (NIV). And in 1 Corinthians 11:3-4 he writes that male believers in Christ are married to Him as their Bridegroom and female believers are married to Him as His Bride. Jesus’ bride is His body; He has many members in His body whom He loves with a perfect love (Ephesians 5:25-27).
Jesus was not always a member of this group called “The True Church” because at first He didn’t exist yet! Jesus was not part of humanity until He became flesh through Mary’s pregnancy with His holy seed (Luke 1:35). Therefore we can say that there wasn’t any true church before Jesus came into being—but now we know why there’s such a thing as The True Church today! We need each other because none of us can be saved on our own merit or merit alone–we need each other’s help along with God’s grace too!
The Church Is Made of People, Not a Building.
The Church Is Made up Of People, Not Buildings. the Bible Never Refers to A Building as The Church; It only Speaks of Individual Churches that Meet in Buildings. a Denomination Is Not a Church. a Denomination Is a Group of People Who Hold Similar Beliefs About God and Jesus Christ but May Not Be Connected to One Another Through Any Formal Organization or Structure.
The true church is made up of all those who believe the same things about Jesus Christ and His death on the cross for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). This includes Christians from all denominations, as well as other believers who have never heard about this salvation message before but still trust in Him for their salvation (John 3:16).
The Word “church” Is Never Used to Refer to A Denominational System of Things.
The word “church” is never used to refer to a denominational system of things. The word “church” is never used to refer to a denomination. The word “church” is never used to refer to a religion.
The Bible does not use the word church in reference to any religious group, sect or denomination! Instead, it uses the term “ecclesia” (Strong’s Concordance #G1577) which means “an assembly” or “a congregation” and refers directly back through history until it finds its roots in Scripture itself.
The Greek Word for Church Literally Means “assembly” or “called out Ones.”
In the book of Acts, which is where we see most of the church’s early history unfold, scriptures often refer to churches as ekklesia. The word itself literally means “assembly” or “called out ones.” This word infers that these assemblies are separate from their surrounding community and that they have been called out by God for a specific purpose.
The Greek translation was used in three different ways:
In Acts 19:32, it refers to a group of people who have been called out of their homes and into a meeting place (Agrippa’s house).
In Acts 19:37 and 20:17 it refers to Christians as an entire assembly of believers living together at one time and place.
In 20:28-31 it refers to a gathering only made up of leaders within the church who had authority over matters such as discipline within its ranks
Jesus Purchased the Church by His Blood (acts 20:28).
Jesus purchased the church with His blood (Acts 20:28). What does that mean? Jesus was crucified on the cross, buried in a tomb, and rose from the dead three days later. This is how He paid for our sins so we could be free from eternal punishment. We were all sinners before we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior.
The Church Was Established on The Day of Pentecost (acts 2).
The church was established on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Jesus Christ established His church and gave it authority to carry out His Great Commission. He is still sovereignly ruling over His Church today.
The Bible teaches that there is one true Church, not many churches that claim to be Christian but are not. There are many different denominations within Christianity, each with their own beliefs about God, salvation, and worship services; however, The Bible teaches that when a person becomes a Christian they have become part of “His body” (1 Corinthians 12:27) or His bride (Ephesians 5:29). The Bible also teaches us that this bride has only one husband – Jesus Christ Himself!
THe Church Is the Pillar and Ground of The Truth (1 Timothy 3:15).
The church is the pillar and ground of the truth because it is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ, who is the Truth. The church does not stand above or apart from God’s Word; rather, it stands in such close relationship with it that its very life depends upon its being faithful to God’s revelation in Scripture.
The church is also founded on apostolic teaching and prophetic revelation. In other words, there should be continuity between what you read in Scripture today and what your forefathers read 2000 years ago (or even more).
The Head of The Church Is Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:23).
The Bible reveals that Jesus Christ is the head of the church. This means he is her Savior and Lord. In Ephesians 5:23, Paul tells us that husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her. As a husband should love his wife, so too should each believer love the Church.
The picture painted here by Paul is one of submission where Jesus Christ submits himself to his bride and in turn she submits herself completely to him (Ephesians 5:24). It’s also important to note that this relationship between Christ and His bride was prophesied about since before creation began (Revelation 19:7).
There Is only One True Church, with No Apostasies.
The true church is not a denomination. The true church is not a building. The true church is not a system of things. The true church is not an institution, nor is it hierarchical in structure or organization.
The Bible teaches there’s only one Church—and that Church exists today as it did in the first century: made up of all those who have believed in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord (Acts 2:47). It’s evident that this was once again the case when Jesus’ disciples began to meet together daily (Acts 2:42) for breaking bread and sharing time with one another after His death, burial and resurrection (Acts 20:7). There was no denominationalism or hierarchy to be found here; everyone was equal before God regardless of their social standing within society at large!
The Apostle Paul explains why we should consider ourselves part of this group by saying “we were all baptized into one body” through being born again through faith in Christ (1 Cor 12:12). This means we are all partakers now because our old self died along with Him on Calvary some two thousand years ago!
God’s True Church Was Founded by Jesus Christ During His Earthly Ministry as Recorded In Matthew 16 and Mark 3.
The church was founded by Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry as recorded in Matthew 16 and Mark 3.
Conclusion
The Bible says that the true church is not a denomination, but an assembly of people who are called out by God to represent Him to the world. The word “church” is never used in the New Testament to refer to a building, but rather it refers to people who come together with Jesus Christ as their head and Lord. As Christians, we should all be able to recognize one another as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and treat each other with respect as members of God’s family on earth