When our Lord came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he questioned his disciples as to what people were saying about his identity. Having received the answer, he then asked his disciples “Who do you say that I am?” It was Peter who answered that he was the Christ, the Son of the Living God. After Jesus blessed Peter for making the statement about his Sonship to God, Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

Among the things that stand out in this sentence are:

“I” tells that Jesus was the builder of the church.

“Will build” indicates that the church was still in the future. This is about six months before Jesus died.

“My church” certainly identifies to whom the church belongs. Jesus paid the purchase price of his own blood for the church (Acts 20:28). He is its chief executive, its exalted ruler (Ephesians 1:22,23).

The word “church,” singular, tells us how many churches Jesus built.

As we move forward to the second chapter of Acts, it is the day of Pentecost. Jesus had been crucified about 53 days earlier. Peter and the other disciples stood up and preached to the people about the crucified Jesus. Peter said, “Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). The people were cut to the heart with the message of Jesus and responded immediately: “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (Acts 2:41). Then, the narrative concludes by saying “...And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).

It is of great significance that here, for the first time in all the scriptures, it is said that people were ushered into the church. The reason is obvious; on that day, the first Pentecost following the resurrection, the church of our Lord came into existence.

This institution, the church, from this time forward was intended by our Lord to be the realm of those who are saved. The same conditions on which salvation is obtained are the same conditions by which one is added to the church (Acts 2:38-47). One does not obtain salvation without being added to the church. One is not added to the church without first being saved.

In Colossians 1:13,14 Paul said, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of his love. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Paul clearly tells us in Ephesians 1:22-23 that the church is Christ’s body, “...to the church, which is his body.” Since forgiveness of sins is only in the body of Christ; and since the body of Christ is the church, it follows that forgiveness of sins is only in the church.

One might ask, “Which church?” We might counter by asking “Which Lord should we acknowledge?” “To which Savior shall we confess our allegiance?” If the answer to these questions is that there is but one Lord, and there is therefore no choice to be exercised, we answer that this is exactly so. The same passage of scripture which teaches us that there is but one Lord, teaches us clearly that there is one New Testament church. The passage is Ephesians 4:4-6: “There is ONE BODY, and one spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

What is the “ONE BODY?” We learned in Ephesians 1:22-23 that the church is the body of Christ. There is but one Lord and there is but one body. Since the body is the church, it follows that there is but one New Testament church. It is just as reasonable to speak of a multiplicity of churches. The church is the body of baptized believers over which Christ rules and reigns as head, who is attempting to live in obedience to his will.

The popular view that one “gets saved” and then “joins the church of his choice” is a concept that is neither taught or even hinted at in all of the scriptures.

Adapted from Venice’s Bulletin
(All scripture references
are from the NKJV)

There is never a day so dreary
But God can make it bright,
And unto the soul that trusts Him
He gives songs in the night.

There is never a path so hidden
But God will lead the way,
If we seek for the Spirit’s guidance,
And patiently wait and pray.

There is never a cross so heavy
But the nail scared hands are there,
Outstretched in tender compassion,
The burden to help us bear.

There is never a heart so broken
But the loving Lord can heal.
For the Lord that was pierced on Calvary
Doth still for His loved ones feel.

There is never a life so darkened
So helpless and unblest,
But may be filled with the light of God
And enter promised rest.

Adaptation from
The Sandusky Sower

When walking down the path of life,
Remember what I say,
That every man must feel the thorns
That grow along the way.

And every soul will stumble,
For every man is weak,
And the road of life uncertain,
It’s prospects often bleak.

But always give a helping hand,
A word of love, a smile,
To help the soul beside you walk,
Across each weary mile.

For love causes the sun to shine,
And everywhere you go,
The painful thorns less noticed as
The roses bloom and grow.

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:2

Copied from The Sandusky Sower