"And I say unto you, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church" (Matt. 16:18-19). Almost everything we own has some distinction that we can use for identification. Should an architect build two houses using the same blueprint, one on Oak Street and one on Maple Street, the only way to distinguish between the two would be the address.
In building the church, Jesus used a distinctive pattern. It is composed of people who carry on a divine work. When we find a group of people that fit the pattern in organization and worship, we know that is the church Christ built.
Jesus said, "I will build my church." He also said, "all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matt. 28:18). "And he is the head of the body, the church" (Col. 1:18). The Lord built only one church (Eph. 4:4).
"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord" (Col. 3:17). To do a thing in the name of the Lord, is to do it by his authority. A thing done that is not authorized by the scriptures cannot possibly be done by his authority.
The church Jesus built worships God in spirit and in truth. “God is a spirit: and they that worship him MUST worship the Father in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24). There are no options in the word must. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth”(John 17:17) Our worship must be according to God’s word.
The pattern for worship is found in the New Testament. Christians are to sing praises to God, "making melody in your heart unto the Lord" (Eph. 5:19). Prayers are addressed to God, the Father. Jesus instructed: “When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven...”(Luke 11:2) We are to pray in the name of Jesus Christ (John 14:13; Eph. 5:20). The Lord's supper, the only scriptural monument to Jesus, is observed on the first day of the week. “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them...”(Acts 20:7).
Christians are to contribute financially to the work of the kingdom. “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him...” (I Cor. 16:1-2). Then we are to teach or preach God's word as Paul did in Acts 20:7.
Christ prayed: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they may be ONE; as thou, Father, art in me, that they also may be ONE in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me" (John 17:20-21).
Please weigh carefully these things in regard to identifying the Lord's church. Salvation is in Christ (II Tim. 2:10). To be "in Christ" is to be in his church. "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all" (Eph. 1:22-23). "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47).
"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Pet. 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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