What is the Church

The word church and churches occur in the New Testament 109 times, always translated from ekklesia, which would have been more correctly rendered congregation, which, with the Bible qualification, would have read, "the congregation of God," "the congregation of the first-born," etc. denoting its Divine Founder and Owner. And "the congregation that was at Antioch," The congregation of God which was at Corinth," The congregation of Asia," "The congregation of Galatia,"etc, denoting the different geographical locations of the congregations of God. But whether we use the word church, as in common use, or congregation, the more correct appellation, we should only attach such meaning to it as agrees with the Word of God. To use a Bible word out of its biblical meaning is perverting the Bible. What then is the Bible definition of the church? Answer: "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all." Ephesians 1:22-23.

"And he is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have pre-eminence." Col.1:18. "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ, in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church." Col 1:24.

The church is the body of Christ. And its being the body of Christ, necessarily includes all his members. Therefore to call an earthly building the church is ridiculous. And to call an organized division the church is subverting the truth. No sect contains all the body of Christ, therefore, no sect is the church of God. Then as honest men, who expect to be judged by the Word of God, let us never call anything the church but the body of Christ; i.e., all the saved, either universally, or in any given locality.

Who is the Founder of the Church?

We are told that Abraham "looked for a city which hath foundation, whose builder and maker is God." Heb 11:10. And the apostle Paul says to the converted Hebrews in the next chapter (verses 22-24), "But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel."

The city whose builder and maker is God we have come unto in the gospel dispensation, and it is the church of the first-born. Christ who was "God made manifest in the flesh," is the founder, builder, and maker of the church. "For this man [Christ Jesus] was counted worth of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he that builded the house hath more honor than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God." Heb 3:3-4. "Feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." Acts 20:28. "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it by the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church,…holy and without blemish." Eph 5:25-27. "Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matt 16:18.

When was the Church Built?

The last text cited above speaks of her building as then in the future. Now read 1 Cor 3:9, "Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building."

"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirits." Ephesians 2:19-22.

"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable unto God by Jesus Christ." 1 Pet.2:5.

In A.D. 32 Christ said, "I will build my church." In [A.D.] 59 and after that, the apostles said, "Ye are God's building," "are built up a spiritual house." So the church was built between those dates. It is true that the church was begun under the labors of John the Baptist, Jesus and his apostles, before the day of Pentecost. Many believed and entered the kingdom then, and constituted material for the church. But the coming of the Holy spirit was the point of time when the church was really built, and set in order, as seen in 1 Cor 12:6, 11-13, 18, 24. The church is defined as "his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all." Eph 1:23. The church proper then did not exist until the fullness of Christ came, which was on the day of Pentecost. Then it was fully set, and "fitly joined together and compacted." That being the time of the founding of the church of God, it follows that every religious body that has since come into existence is not the church of God, but a daughter of confusion, born out of due season. This includes Romanism and all Protestant sects.

Who is the Foundation?

"Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation; he that believeth shall not make haste." Isa 28:16.

"For who is God save the Lord? Or who is a rock save our God?" Psalms 18:31.

"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Cor 3:11.

"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord." Eph 2:20-21.

In the last text we see that the apostles were foundation-stones., If we were held to apply the "rock" in Matt 16:18 to Peter, there is nothing in such application of the text that conflicts with scriptures. The apostles all being foundations, of course Peter was one of them. He does not single Peter out here because he had any pre-eminence over the rest, but because he was conversing with him, and his name Cephas-a stone-called out the assertion. For evidence that the twelve were all foundations see Rev 21:14. Christ is all underlying foundations. The apostles being first chosen and inspired to give us the New Testament, were foundation stones occupying a connecting position between Christ the Rock, and the rest of the building. Christ is then the only Rock. "Other foundation can no man lay." Christ built his church on himself. All later built organization are without Christ as their foundation, and must perish.

Who is the Head of the Church?

" And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him [Christ] to be head over all things to the church." Eph 1:22.

"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint suppieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." Eph 4:15-16.

"For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church; and he is the Saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husband in everything." Eph 5:23,24.

"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence."

"Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God." Col 2:18,19.

The head of an institution is its lawmaker. "For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us. Isa 33:22

"There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy." James 4:12

All organism that make their own laws, creeds, disciplines, and sytems of co-operation, "do not hold the head"-Christ. Their lawmaking synods and general conferences ignore the Divine lawgiver, usurp the place of Christ and sit in the stead of God, and are not Christ's church, which is subject to him.

Again there is one head; hence there can be but one body.

Who is the door of the Church?

Thus saith the Lord: "Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep…I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture" John 10:7, 9.

"I know thy works: behold, I have set before an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou has little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name." Rev 3:8.

"For through him we both have access by one spirit unto the Father." Eph 2:18.

In these scriptures we see clearly that Christ is the door of the church, and salvation the mode of induction, and that it is a door that stands open continually, and no man can shut. Christ is not the door of any sect, therefore no sect is the church of God. The experience of salvation does not constitute a person a member of any sect on earth; therefore they are not the church of God. All sects have a door, a manner of admitting members, that is open and shut by men; hence are unlike the church of God, which no man can open and shut. They are therefore not his church.

Who Takes Members Into The Church?

" And they continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Acts 2:46, 47.

"But now hath God set the members everyone of them in the body, as it hath pleased him." 1 Cor 12:18.

"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." 1 Cor 12:13.

Here the setting of the members into the body, or adding to the church, is ascribed to God, to Christ, and to the spirit. Of course, these are one, the triune God.

But God never takes men into a sect; therefore no sect is his church.

Who Are Members of The Church?

If, as we have seen, salvation is the process of entering the church, it follows that no one is in the church who has not salvation. The church is one "family in heaven and earth," named after the FATHER. Eph 3:15. This family is the "household of God." Eph 2:19. Then it follows that only the sons of God, such are born of the spirit, are in the church. And we are told that "he that commiteth sin is of the devil:" and "whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin." "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the Devil" (1 John 3:8-10); namely, in the fact that the children of the devil commit sin, and the children of God do not. The holy apostle repeats the fact with emphasis. "We know that whosoever is begotten of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one touceth him not." 1 John 5:18. There are no sinners in the church. But all sects are more or less filled with sinners. Hence, no sect is the church of God.

Who Organizes The Church?

The word "organize" is not in scriptures. It is defines in the dictionary as follows: "To furnish with organs; to arrange in parts; to form in due order."

God's church is furnished with organs, arranged in parts, and in due order; hence, is an organic structure. But who is the organizer of the same? Who furnishes it with organs? Answer: "for to one is given by the spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues; but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.""1 Cor 12:8-11.

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and unto all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." Acts 20:28.

"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; WHO also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."2 Cor 3:5,6.

"He that descendeth is the same also that ascendeth up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave some apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelist; and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." Eph 4:10-13.

These are sufficient to prove that God furnished his church with all its organs, namely with all necessary gifts of the Spirit, and officers. The foregoing scriptures cover the first definitions of the word organize. But who forms in due parts? "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him…For our comely parts have no need: that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another." 1 Cor 12:18, 24, 25. Other scriptures also show the harmonizing of the body of Christ, by the hand of God and through the Spirit. Bu those given above are sufficient. One thing however, we mention, and that is the laying on of hands by the elders in ordaining elders, etc. That this pertains to the organization of the church, we freely allow. God ordains by way of qualifying and choosing, and his ministers ordain in the sense of recognizing the divine call, and dedicating thereunto. This order is clearly seen in Acts 13:1-4.

Successions of authority down through a course of ecclesiastical lords is all a superstitious delusion; a dragon power. Those whom God saves, baptizes with power, and commissions by the Holy Spirit have the only ecclesiastical authority instituted of God, and this comes direct from heaven, and not through any imaginary line of predecessors.

Voting for officers only belongs to Babylon formality, where God is not present to work "all in all,: by the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he wills.

The church, then, is organized by the Lord, who sets all the members in the body as it please him, and distributes the gifts and callings by his own wisdom to all the members of the body. Men may organize a human compact, but never the divine body of Christ, which is the church. Thus said the Lord: "and who, as I, shall call and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? And the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them." Isa 44:7.

This is the point. God himself "appointed the ancient people" to their several places in the body, and who will presume to take upon himself the prerogative of the Almighty? Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is not breath in them. They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish. The portion of Jacob is not like them; for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance; the Lord of host is his name." Jer 52:17-19.

The sect-founders are confounded because their structure "have no breath"-no life. They call them churches, but it is "falsehood" the work of errors. But God's true church is the former of all things, the primitive church that Jesus bought with his own blood, and built before the rise of the first sect of the apostasy.

He that builds a house organizes the same. But if other men were to come and saw the same house into four parts, and throw each off its foundation, such work would be disorganizing the building, and destroying the same. Just so should God, by the pure Word and Spirit, fully save, say four hundred souls in one city, he would organize and temper all together in one body. But should four preachers, representing as many sects, each would have the impudence to report to his conference that he had organized a church there of one hundred members, while the facts would be, they, like the parties cleaving the house asunder, would really disorganize and disintegrate the church. Thus, we see that the organizing sects, the work of men, is the disorganizing of the church, which is built of God. Since then, the church is organized by men, lack the authentic seal of God, and are not his church, but unscriptural schisms.

How Many Church Has God?

Every description of the divine church shows its oneness "Other sheep [Gentiles] I have, which are not of this fold [not Jews]: then also I must bring,…and there shall be one fold [church], and one shepherd," John 10:16.

We have seen that Christ is the "head of the body, the church." As therefore there is but one head, there can be but one body.

"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." Rom 12:4-5.

"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. But now are they many members, yet but one body." 1 Cor 12:12, 13,20.

"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby." Eph 2:14-16.

"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are 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. Eph 4:4-6.

" And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also ye are called in one body and be ye thankful." Colossians 3:15.

These scriptures prove positively there is but one true church, just as there is but one God, one true God. Since we are called of Christ into one body, the call to join various bodies must be of Antichrist.

Again the church sustains the relation to Christ that a wife does to her husband.

"And I will bethroth thee unto me forever; yea, I will bethroth thee unto me in righteousness, an in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even bethroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord." Hosea 2:19,20.

"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." Rom 7:4. "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy; for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." 2 Cor 11:2, "He that hath the bride is the bridegroom" John 3:29.

"For thine Maker is thine husband, the Lord of hosts is his name: and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall he be called."

The idea of Christ having more than one wife (church) is repugnant to the Bible, and a slander on the son of God.

"Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." Eph 3:15.

"Now therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God." Eph 2:19.

From these and other scriptures, we see that the church is God's family, or household. And, since a man can have only one family, it follows that God has but one church. It would be an awful reflection on the holiness of God to have many wives and separate rival families, and they of the "nude and lude" character Bishop Foster ascribes of the modern sects. Therefore the multiplicity of sects, falsely called churches, are not of God's church.

But Does the Bible Speak of More Than One Church?

The word "church" frequently occurs in the plural form, but never in the sense of sects or denominations. When more than one church is spoken of, it is always the one church of the living God, in different localities.

"They returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified." Acts 9:31

"They returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch;…and when they had ordained them elders in every church," etc. Acts 14:21, 23.

"And he went throughout Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches." Acts 15:41.

"Who have for my life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles." Romans 16:4.

"As I teach everywhere in every church." 1 Cor 7:17.

"As I have given order to the churches of Galatia." 1 Cor 16:1

"The churches of Asia salute you." 1 Cor 16:19.

"Throughout all the churches." 2 Cor 8:18.

"Thus we see that when churches are spoken of, they invariably denote the same church of God in several cities, or throughout one or more countries. But there is not the slightest intimation of more than one church in the same city. Speaking of the church in various geographical localities, the apostle says: "So ordain I in all churches." "As I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye [Corinthians}." It can easily be seen that if these New Testament "churches" were different sects, as we have today, lone bishop could not give orders to them all. Bishop Simpson of the M.E. sect cannot issue orders over the U. B.,Lutheran, Presbyterian, and other sects. He has no jurisdiction over them. So we see a vast difference between Bible churches and sect divisions. The former are all one in Christ. The latter are independent and separate schisms. Several sects exist in the same town, but God only has one church in the same place, Hence we read: "The church that was at Antioch." Acts 13:1. "The church of God which is at Corinth." I Cor 1:2. "The church of the Thessalonians." 1Thess 1:1. "Unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea." Rev 1:11. Thus we see there was only one church in one city. Seven sects can now be addressed in one town of no great size. But when messages were sent to seven churches in that place. Then it follows that plurality of separate bodies in the same place are not God's church; but Babel's confusion.

Does the Bible Teach The Unity Of Believers?

Yes. "Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name. John 17:11, 12.

"Neither pray I thee for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one: as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one: and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." John 17:20-23.

"Now I bessech you, brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no division among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same judgment." 1 Cor 1:10.

"For ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Gal 3:28.

"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." Phil 1:27.

"Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus; that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom 15:5.

"The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul." Acts 4:32.

Can anybody look upon this picture and not see an awful contrast between it and the dark picture of the present-day sect confusion? Do the members of the different sects have the same care for one another? Behold, they are not of one mind, nor of one judgment; they are not in one name, nor creed, nor body; they are not of one heart, nor of one soul, nor of one spirit, nor yet of one faith; they have not one mouth, nor do they speak the same things. They are never one, except it be in opposing Bible salvation. As God confounded the baal-builders, and they all became divided, and of different tongue, so he has sent his thunderbolts of wrath upon Rome, the mother of harlots, and has knocked off several hundred Protestant fragments, each one of which speaks the peculiar dialect of its creed. The church, compared with a human body, is required to have but one mouth, which means perfect harmony in all her teaching. If we were to allow that the multiplicity of sects are the church, then a human monstrosity, having several hundred mouths, and every mouth speaking contrary to every other mouth, would be necessary to symbolize it. As the body of Christ has but one mouth and speaks the same things, it is very evident that the jargon confusion of sect tongues does not represent this body, and is not his church.