"I Will Build My Church"

The above is a quotation from Jesus (Mt. 16:18). The statement shows ownership, i.e. the church belongs to Jesus. The church he spoke of is the saved (Acts 2:41, 47). The church is the "bride" of Christ (Rev 21:9). Christ is "head of the church" and "savior of the body" (Eph 5:23), which is the church (Col 1:24). It is also the "house of God" (1 Ti 3:15). Since the church belongs to Jesus, and it is his bride, it should be named after him rather than some man. John the Baptist did not build the church. He preached of another that was greater than he and introduced Jesus (Mt 3:11). Martin Luther didn't build the church. He insisted that men not name the church after him, but after Christ; yet it was done in spite of his pleas.

Jesus' statement indicates that he built one church. We have seen that the body and the church are the same. So when we read that there is "one body" (1 Cor 12:13, 20) we understand that there is one church. Jesus prayed that his disciples might be one so that the world might believe (John 17:20-21). Jesus' prayer was answered but unity was not longstanding. Paul exhorted the church at Corinth to be united and rebuked them for their division (1 Cor 1:10-13).

Clearly, the division among Christians is wrong and it causes confusion. But God is "not the author of confusion, but of peace" (1 Cor 14:33). In 2 Peter 2:1-3, we see Peter's warning of false teachers. He said, "And many shall follow their pernicious ways…" John said, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (1 Jn 4:1). Yet many people today are content to trust their preacher regarding important issues rather than "search the scriptures daily" (Acts 17:11). Therefore, the church of which they are a member may not be the one Jesus promised to build. The Psalmist said "Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it (Ps 127:1). The church of the Lord is built as men, by the authority of Christ, preach the true gospel. This involves telling people the truth so they can obey the Lord to be saved (Ro 6:3-4, 17-18; Col 2:12-13). Accursed is any man that preaches another gospel (Gal 1:8-9). The Lord has built his church. Are you sure you are a member of it?

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