by R. L. Morrison

There is much confusion in the religious world today about the church. There are many different churches wearing different names, teaching different, conflicting doctrines, and practicing different things. This is very apparent. It is also very confusing to honest, sincere people. Many do not know what to believe. They do not know which church, if any, is right. As a result, many will never make an effort to learn what the Bible teaches about the church. Many seemingly think that it is not important, that one can serve God and be saved and never associate with any church. The word of God is not silent on this subject, and one can understand what it teaches. The church of the New Testament can be recognized and its importance understood and valued by the believer.

In Matthew 16:18, we find Jesus saying, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!" The "rock" or foundation upon which the church was to be built was Christ, not Peter. This is easily understood by reading 1 Cor. 3:11: "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Jesus said, "my church", so we understand that it would belong to him. We learn that he paid the purchase price for it:. "...the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28). We can also learn that those who were saved were added to the church by the Lord (Acts 2:47). Now we have learned that Jesus promised to build a church (his), that he paid for it with his life's blood, and the saved are added to it. This shows us the importance of the church.

But the question again arises, "Which one is it?" There are so many churches. Each one claims to be of God, to be teaching His will and following His commandments. How can I know for sure?

The church of the New Testament has some identifying marks or characteristics. They set it apart from all others. When these things are understood, the church Jesus built can be positively recognized. Let me illustrate: You, the reader, have some identifying marks which remain the same and which make you different from all other people. These marks are your name, your date of birth, your place of birth, etc. Many have the same date of birth, but not the same place or name. Let us be more specific. Suppose you are looking for a man born July 4, 1930, in Memphis, Tenn., whose name is John Jones. You may find a John Jones, ask his birth date, and if he says anything other than July 4, 1930, you know, at once, he is not the man for whom you are looking. You will have to search elsewhere. Note also that these marks or characteristics do not change, no matter where you go, or what you do.

These same principles apply to the New Testament church. It has a name, a place and a time of beginning. These things set it apart from all others. Let us now consider these distinguishing features.

Old Testament prophets foretold the time and the place: Isaiah 2:2-3: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." Micah 4:1-2 repeats this prophecy regarding the right time. Isaiah foretold the last days. In Acts 2, as Peter began to speak, he referred to the events then transpiring as being in "the last days". This simply means that in the very beginning of the last period of time, the church would be built. Joel also prophesied of this, and Peter spoke of his prophecy.

The right place: The prophets foretold Jerusalem (Zion) as the place. Just before Jesus ascended, he told the apostles to "tarry in Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). They had obeyed, and when the power of the Holy Spirit came upon them, they began to speak as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The right builder: Jesus had promised to build it (Matt. 16:18), although he did not say then where it would begin. The prophets foretold it also. Isaiah called it the "mountain of the Lord's house." In the New Testament (1 Tim. 3:15), Paul wrote: "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." Paul said the church is the household of God.

The church of Christ had its origin in Jerusalem, on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ, in the beginning of the last days, or era of time. This is true of no other religious organization on earth. In looking for the New Testament church, ask about these distinguishing features. If the church began at any time other than that Pentecost of Acts 2, it is not the right church. If it had its origin in any city or place other than Jerusalem, it is not the right church. Any founder, other than Jesus Christ, plainly declares that church is not the one Christ purchased with his blood.

But, people ask, "How can that be today? There are no congregations today which came into existence in Jerusalem more that 19 centuries ago!" True, but the same gospel, (the seed of the kingdom, Luke 8:11) that which the apostles planted that day in the hearts of men by preaching the gospel, will produce the same result today. Every seed reproduces after its own kind. When the gospel is preached today, as the apostles began to deliver it on that day, those who hear, believe, and obey are added by the Lord to the church he built. In obedience, they received the forgiveness of sins, as Peter declared. Those baptized into Christ are members of the church the prophets foretold, the one church that Jesus built and which wears his name.

When the question is asked: "which church did Jesus build?" the majority of people will begin to think of some material structure. This can be determined by observing the signs erected on the meeting places of different religious groups. One may be identified as the "First Baptist Church". Another may be called the "First United Methodist Church." And so it is the religious world. The meeting house is identified as the church, and with many, it is considered a sacred place. This is not in harmony with the New Testament. As Paul preached the gospel in Athens (Acts 17), he said: "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands." This is NOT to say that it is wrong for a "church" to own a meeting house, or place of worship, but that the material structure is not the church.

The church Jesus built consists of people: those who have heard, believed and obeyed the truth. When one obeys the gospel of Christ, that one is freed from sin, and added by the Lord to the church. The church, then, that Jesus built consists of people - believing, obeying people, not some structure of wood or stone. These are people in whom Christ dwells by faith. Hear Paul, as he defines it: "... That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, that ye may be able to comprehend ... and know the love of Christ" (Eph. 3:17-19).

The church that Jesus built follows only the teaching of the Apostles, given in the New Testament. Such a church can, and will give scriptural reference for every activity in which it is engaged. This means it will refer to the scriptures to justify its practices. It has no man made creeds, no disciplines, no manuals, or any book other than the New Testament. This is the only standard by which all men will be judged in the last day (John 12:48).

No, Jesus is NOT responsible for the condition that exists in the religious world today. HE built but ONE church: It wears his name. By these things, one can determine which church Jesus built.

Are you a member of Christ's church?