THE TRUE CHURCH WHAT IS THE TRUE CHURCH

THE TRUE CHURCH

WHAT IS THE TRUE CHURCH?

THE BODY OF CHRIST • Ephesians 1: 22 -23 • 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, • 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

THE HEAD OF THE BODY • Colossians 1: 18 • 18 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 preeminence.

THE BRIDE OF CHRIST • Ephesians 5: 23 -27 • 23 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. • 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. • 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; • 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, • 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

MADE UP OF… • Members: 1 Corinthians 12: 12 • 12 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. • Called Out: 1 Peter 2: 9 • 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

CALLED BY THE GOSPEL • 2 Thessalonians 2: 14 • 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

ADDED TO THE CHURCH • Acts 2: 47 • 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. • Acts 2: 41 • 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

CITIZENSHIP IS HEAVEN • Philippians 3: 20 KJV • 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: • Philippians 3: 20 NKJV • 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

FOUNDED BY CHRIST • Matthew 16: 18 • 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. What rock? • Matthew 16: 16 • 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

PURCHASED AT A COST • Acts 20: 28 • 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to 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. • Ephesians 5: 25 • 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

BOUGHT WITH A PRICE • 1 Corinthians 6: 19 -20 • 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? • 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

BOUGHT WITH A PRICE

FOUNDATION LAID • 1 Corinthians 3: 11 • 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. JESUS CHRIST

CHIEF CORNER STONE • Ephesians 2: 18 -20 • 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. • 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; • 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

ALL POWER • Matthew 28: 18 • 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

JESUS IS LORD • John 14: 6 • 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

DO THE WILL OF HIM • John 4: 34 • 34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

WHAT IS THE TRUE CHURCH?

PILLAR AND GROUND • 1 Timothy 3: 15 • 15 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.

WALKING WORTHY • Ephesians 4: 1 -3 • 1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, • 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; • 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

UNITED IN CHRIST • Ephesians 4: 4 -6 • 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; • 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, • 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

FULLNESS OF CHRIST • Ephesians 4: 11 -15 • 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; • 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: • 13 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:

GROW UP INTO HIM • Ephesians 4: 11 -15 • 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; • 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

HOW DO WE KNOW IF A CHURCH IS TRUE OR NOT?

I KNOW THY WORKS… • Ephesus: Revelation 2: 1 -7 • Can’t bear evil, tried apostles & found to be liars, labored for his name and not fainted, BUT left their first love; Repent, Listen, Overcome • Smyrna: Revelation 2: 8 -11 • Poor and in tribulation but rich!; you will be tried, but be faithful until death

I KNOW THY WORKS… • Pergamos: Revelation 2: 12 -17 • Held fast His name, Didn’t deny the faith, BUT some held the doctrine of Balaam and the Nicolaitanes, Repent, Listen, Overcome • Thyratira: Revelation 2: 18 -29 • Charity, service, faith, patience, works, BUT allowed Jezebel to bring shame upon them; Hold fast, Overcome, Keep His works, Listen

I KNOW THY WORKS… • Sardis: Revelation 3: 1 -6 • Name that lives but dead; be watchful, strengthen yourself, be ready to die; Hold fast, Repent, Listen • Philadelphia: Revelation 3: 7 -13 • Little strength but kept His word, didn’t deny his name, kept word of His patience; Hold fast, Overcome, Listen

I KNOW THY WORKS… • Laodicea: Revelation 3: 14 -22 • Lukewarm, not hot or cold, Vomited out of His mouth; No need of anything, but wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked, Be tried with fire, rebuked, Repent, Open the door, Overcome, Listen • O’Neal • What would Jesus say about us?

HOW DO WE GET IN? • 1 Corinthians 12: 12 -13 • 12 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. • 13 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.

PUT ON CHRIST • Galatians 3: 27 • 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.