God's word has a great deal of information about the church.  We can learn about who built the church, what the church is called, who are in the church and much more by studying the scriptures.  

 

We learn from the Bible that the church was:

• Built by Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:13-18)

• Purchased by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28)

• Built on Jesus Christ as the only foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11)

• Not built on Peter, Paul, or any other man or woman (1 Corinthians 1:12-13)

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And that the church is:

• Composed of the saved, who are added to it by the Lord Who saves them (Acts 2:47).

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The Bible tells us that members of the church are called:

• Members of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:2; 6:15; Romans 12:4-5)

• Disciples of Christ (Acts 6:1,7; 11:26)bbi

• Believers (Acts 5:14; 2 Corinthians 6:15)

• Saints (Acts 9:13; Romans 1:7; Philippians 1:1) 

• Priests (1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 1:6)

• Children of God (Galatians 3:26-27;1 John 3:1-2)

• Christians (Acts 11:26, 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16)

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In the Bible the church is called:

• The temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16) 

• The bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:22-32)

• The body of Christ (Colossians 1:18, 24)

• The kingdom of God's Son (Colossians 1:13)

• The house of God (1 Timothy 3:5)

• The church of God (1 Corinthians 1:2)

• The church of the firstborn (Hebrews 12:23)

• The church of the Lord (Acts 20:28)

• The churches of Christ (Romans 16:16)

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In the Bible we learn that the local church has:

• Elders (also called bishops and pastors) who oversee and tend the flock (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4)

• Deacons, who serve the church (1 Timothy 3:8-13; Philippians 1:1)

• Evangelists (preachers, ministers), who teach and proclaim the Word of God (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 4:13-16; 2 Timothy 4:1-5)

• Members, who love the Lord and each other (Philippians 2:1-5)

• Autonomy (independence), and is bound to other local churches only by the common faith shared (Jude 3, Galatians 5:1)

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The Bible tells us that the faithful church will:

• Worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24)

• Meet on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:25)

• Pray (James 5:16; Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17)

• Sing, making melody with the heart (Ephesians 5;19; Colossians 3:16)

• Partake of the Lord's Supper (communion) on the first day of each week (Acts 2:42, 20:7; Matthew 26:26-30; 1 Corinthians 11:20-32)

• Give, liberally and cheerfully (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, 9:6-8)

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The Bible tells us that our Lord Jesus Christ:

• Loved the church (Ephesians 5:25)

• Shed His blood for the church (Acts 20:28)

• Established the church (Matthew 16:18)

• Adds saved people to the church (Acts 2:27)

• Is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23)

• Will save the church (Acts 2:47; Ephesians 5:23)

• Will deliver the church (His Kingdom) to God the Father at the end of time (1 Corinthians 15:24)

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We learn from that Bible that no man:

• Purposed the church (Ephesians 3:10-11)

• Purchased the church (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25)

• Named its members (Isaiah 56:5, 62:2; Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16)

• Adds people to the church (Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 12:18)

• Gives the church its doctrine (Galatians 1:8-11; 2 John 9-11

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The Bible tells us that to enter the church we must:

• Believe in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 11:6; John 8:24; Acts 16:31)

• Repent of our sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38, 3:19, 17:30)

• Confess our faith in Jesus (Matthew 10:32; Acts 8;37; Romans 10:9-10)

• Be baptized (immersed) for the forgiveness of our sins (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38, 10:48, 22:16)

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The Bible explains that baptism requires:

• Much water (John 3:23; Acts 10:47)

• Going down into the water (Acts 8:36-38)

• A burial in water (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12)

• A resurrection (Acts 8:39; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12)

• A birth (John 3:3-5; Romans 6:3-6) 

• A washing (Acts 22:16; Hebrews 10:22)

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The Bible tells us that by baptism:

• We are saved from our sins (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21)

• We have remission of our sins (Acts 2:38)

• Our sins are washed away by the blood of Christ (Acts 22:16; Hebrews 9:22, 10:22; 1 Peter 3:21)

• We enter the church (1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:41, 47)

• We enter into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:3-4)

• We put on Christ and become a child of God (Galatians 3:26-27)

• We walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-6)

• We are born again, a new creature (Romans 6:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17)

• We obey Christ (Mark 16:16; Acts 10:48; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)