THE BIBLE SPEAKS DAILY (OCTOBER 26th, 2024)

TODAY'S TOPIC: FAITH DESCRIBES THE CHURCH BUILT BY JESUS CHRIST.

TODAY'S VERSE: Matthew 16:18-19.

"...And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

In the Bible, Jesus said, "I will build my Church."

a. We know that He kept this promise because the Church is spoken of as being in existence on the day of the first Pentecost, after the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, described in Acts 2. 

b. We know that those who obeyed the Gospel during the apostolic age were added to this Church by the Lord (Acts 2:47). 

c. We know that the Epistles were written in order that members of this Church might know how to "behave themselves" in "the Church of the living God" (I Tim. 3:15). 

d. We know that Jesus Christ, who built the Church, continues as the head of the Church, "which is His body" (Eph. 1:22, 23). 

e. We know that this Church has not ceased to exist, because we are assured in Old Testament prophecy that the Church, or Kingdom, "shall stand for ever" (Dan. 2:44). 

f. We know that in the New Testament, it is described as "a kingdom which cannot be moved" (Heb. 12:28).

The Church which was built by Jesus Christ was not:

1. Not The Church of the East,

2. Not Oriental Orthodox Church,

3. Not Eastern Orthodox Church,

4. Not Catholic Church,

5. Not Protestant Church,

6. Not Reformational Church,

7. Not Restorationism Church.

The only question, then, for modern men is how that Church can be identified in the world today. 

It is true that there are hundreds of Churches in existence today, but they do not all claim to be the Church that Jesus built. 

Most of them are denominations which freely admit to being such, and admit that no one denomination is the Church of our Lord. 

All the aforementioned denominations teach that men can be saved outside their Churches and can go to Heaven without ever joining one of them. 

They teach that there are saved persons in all denominations, that membership is optional, and that one Church is as good as another, as far as salvation is concerned.

 What, then, do they say about the one Body of Christ? 

The denominational theory teaches that all these modern Churches are parts of the one great Invisible, Universal Church. 

The word "Denomination" means a part of the whole. But is this claim in harmony with the teachings of Christ and His Apostles? Gal.1:8-9.

The New Testament speaks of "one Body," "One Spirit," "One Lord," "One Faith," "One Baptism," "One Hope" and "One God." 

As we observe the denominational Churches, we see that there is not One Faith among them, and that there is not One Baptism, even as they openly preach multiple Hopes of the Gospel.

 The "one Faith" is the Faith mentioned in Jude 3, where we are told to "earnestly contend for the Faith." This Faith is a body of truth; a system of religion which is contained in the New Testament. It is more than simply a belief that Jesus Christ is God's Son. When inspired Preachers "preached Christ," they included "the things concerning the Kingdom of God" (Acts 8:5, 12). 

Today men will ask, "What is your faith?", inquiring as to which denominational Creed you accept. Indeed there are many Faiths, all claiming to be of Christ. These Faiths are determined by Creed Books, Disciplines, Manuals, The Mandate, and Constitution, written by uninspired Men, and by the decisions of Councils, Committees, Congresses, Synods and other Legislative Bodies.

 These Faiths are even changed from year to year according to the whims of fallible Men.

In the place of "One Baptism," we find Sprinkling, Pouring, Immersion, Holy Spirit Baptism, and no Baptism at all. 

We find some who Baptized Babies, and some who do not; we find some who Baptize for one purpose, and some who baptize for another. But all still claim the Lord as their Head. Yet, by the very act of setting up earthly Heads for their Churches, of exercising Legislative Power which belongs only to Christ, and of changing or ignoring the clearest teachings of the New Testament, these Churches have denied Christ His position as Head. 

If He were ever head of any one of them or of all of them, they have certainly forced Him to abdicate by their own rebellion.

The Church that we read about in the New Testament does not have parts or branches, except for the individuals who compose it.

 Division and sectarianism are condemned (1 Cor. 1:10-13). 

Christ prayed that His disciples might be one, or united (John 17:21). 

It is true that undenominational Christians are often divided because of sin, ignorance and improper attitudes; that is to be deplored. But denominationalism is a system of which division is the essence; it glorifies division; it depends for its very existence upon the continuation of division; it claims that such division can be justified in God's sight; it claims that division is inevitable, thus condemning the prayer of Christ as foolishness.

If any of these Churches, or all of them combined, claim to be the church that Jesus built, then the clearest test is to determine how men became a part of Christ's church in the New Testament, and to compare that with the entrance requirements of modern denominations. 

We find that men and women obeyed the gospel by believing (John 6:47), repenting (Acts 2:38), confessing (Acts 8:37), and being immersed in water, for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16). When they did this, the Lord added them to the church (Acts 2:47). 

The conditions of pardon have not changed, so it is foolish to assume that anyone will be added to Christ's Church today without full obedience to the gospel according to the Apostolic pattern. Most denominations teach that immersion in water for the remission of sins is unnecessary. Most of them, if they baptize at all, baptize for some other purpose. Thus, the greater part of the membership of modern denominations is composed of persons who have never been pardoned from their sins. They are still alien sinners. It is important to state that they have not been added to the Lord's church. 

The individual denominations have their own terms of admission. 

a. Some vote on candidates for membership; 

b. Some demand an experience of grace. 

c. Some assume that because a man or woman has prayed Sinners Prayers, he/she is already a member of their church. 

In this way, they distinguish between their Church and the Church that Jesus built. They may claim to be members of two churches: a human denomination and the one body.. But the fact that most have never obeyed the gospel leaves them out of the One Body. And if one has obeyed the gospel, he is already a member of the Lord's Church. For him to forsake the fellowship of his own brethren who have also been added to the church, in order to work with alien sinners in a church disloyal to Christ's teaching would be a treason.

Being a member of the church that Jesus built was, and is, sufficient. 

a. Paul said to the Corinthians, "I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you" (1 Cor. 11:18, 19). 

b. Peter said, "There shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies" (2 Pet. 2:1). 

c. Paul said to the Romans, "Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them" (Rom. 16:17). 

The apostles recognized the inevitability of factions arising among the brethren and of false teachers bringing in new doctrines, contrary to the New Testament. This has been going on since the first century. The first major departure from the faith resulted in the Romish Church. 

Later departures have resulted in other distinct religious groups. This will continue until the end of time. Sometimes the group departing from the faith becomes larger and more powerful than the remnant of the faithful.

As long as faithful children of God continue to follow the words of Christ and the Apostles, and refuse to join any human religious organization, and refuse to be bound by any human creed, they will collectively constitute the church that Jesus built. 

The local congregations they compose will be truly churches of Christ, meaning churches belonging to Christ and holding to him as "the Head" (Col. 2:19).

What then must I you do now? "...Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. [18] For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple..." Romans 16:17-18 nkjv.

Embrace the rule of salvation, in the Faith of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

TODAY'S PRAYER:

My Heavenly Father, help my soul. Help my unbelief. Strengthen my inner hearts of obedience to Your Love and Will.

Read your Bible daily, Meditate on God's Word always, and determine to Do the Will of God.

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Thanks.