The Church of the Bible

THE CHURCH OF THE BIBLE

When the question is asked, "What is the church?", many would respond by saying, "Which church are you talking about?" We realize there does exist hundreds of different religious groups in this world, many of which claim to have some attachment to the church of the Bible. When we speak of the church, we have reference to the church that one can read about in the Bible.

BUILDER IS CHRIST

Christ is the builder of the church that you read about in the Bible. In Matthew 16:18, Christ declared, "Upon this rock, I will build my church." The church belongs to Christ. He is the foundation upon which it is built (I Corinthians 3:11). Dear reader, did Christ build the church of which you are a member? Is the church that you are a member of built by man or Christ? You need to be a member of the church built by Christ, His church.

BEGINNING OF THE CHURCH WAS:

the city of Jerusalem, on the day of Pentecost following the ascension of our Lord. This was in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies (Isaiah 2:1-4; Daniel 2:44; Joel 2). These prophecies were fulfilled in Acts 2. Dear reader, does the church of which you are a member, have its beginning in Jerusalem as recorded in Acts 2? If not, then you are not a member of the church that you read about in the Bible.

BIBLE BASED

The church that you read about in the Bible is Bible based. The Word of God is the pattern that is to be followed in all things (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:21). Everything that the church does must be based upon what God has said in His Word. When it comes to the (1) Way of salvation (John 14:6; John 8:24; Luke 13:3; Matthew 10:32-33; Mark 16:16); (2) Worship (John 4:24; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 5:19; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Timothy 4:2-4), (3) Work of the church (Matthew 28:18-20; Galatians 6:2,10; James 1:27; 2 Timothy 4:2-4), (4) Way of life for the members of the church (Titus 2:11-12; Galatians 5:19-23; 1 John 2:15-17; Colossians 3:1-3; Matthew 6;33), the Bible has the only answer and it must be followed completely. Dear reader, does the church of which you are a member have the Bible as its only guide and standard of authority?

BOUND FOR HEAVEN

The church that you read about in the Bible is the body of Christ (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 4:4), bride of Christ (Romans 7:1-4; Revelation 19:7-8), family of God (Galatians 3:26-28), kingdom (Colossians 1:13) and the saved (Acts 2:47). Dear reader, don't you want to be a member of the church that you can read about in the Bible, because it is Heaven-Bound (Ephesians 5:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

THE CHURCH

The church is not made up of people who believe they are better than others, but rather it is made up of those who realize that they should be better than they are and must continually strive to do better always.

The church is not made up of perfect people, but people who realize they are following a perfect Lord and a perfect law and therefore must do the very best they can.

The church is not made up of people who never make mistakes, but those who often acknowledge their mistakes and then forsake them. Never must we seek to justify them or continually make the same mistakes over and over again.

The church is not trying to withdraw from everyone, but rather to draw everyone into its fellowship and love who are willing to walk in the light where God the Father and Christ the Son are found.

The church is not trying to set up arbitrary rules to hinder anyone but rather to show the rule of Christ which helps everyone. The church is not trying to take the joy out of your life, but rather is trying to put real joy into every life it touches.

The church is not trying to make you feel ugly, but rather it is trying to instill the beauty of holiness in your life.

The church is not trying to separate you from your money, but rather is trying to keep your money from separating you from God.

The church is not trying to become the master of your life, but trying to get you to master yourself.

The church is not trying to rob your life of priorities, but rather trying to get you to put the priorities in your life .