Jesus did not come into the world to establish hundreds or thousands of different churches teaching conflicting doctrines. He promised to build His church.
Jesus said:
“…upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Matthew 16:18
Notice His words carefully:
“I will build MY church.”
The church belongs to Christ.
CHRIST PURCHASED THE CHURCH
Paul instructed the elders at Ephesus:
“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.”
Acts 20:28
The church is precious because it was purchased with blood.
CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH
God “…gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body…”
Ephesians 1:22–23
Christ—not any man—is the head of His church.
And notice what the church is:
THE CHURCH = HIS BODY
Paul then tells us:
“There is one body…”
Ephesians 4:4
If the church is the body, and there is one body, the New Testament presents one church belonging to Christ.
CHRISTIANS WERE ADDED TO THE CHURCH
On Pentecost, those who received the gospel were baptized:
“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”
Acts 2:41
Who added them?
“And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
Acts 2:47
They did not obey the gospel and then search for a denomination that suited their personal preferences.
The Lord added the saved to His church.
THE CHURCH BELONGS TO CHRIST
The congregations belonging to Christ were described as:
“…The churches of Christ salute you.”
Romans 16:16
This was not a denominational title. It expressed ownership and relationship. These were congregations belonging to Christ.
Christ built the church.
Christ purchased the church.
Christ is the head of the church.
Christ saves the body.
Christ determines the doctrine of the church.
Therefore, man has no authority to redesign Christ’s church according to human traditions, creeds, councils, or personal preferences.
THE CHURCH MUST CONTINUE IN THE APOSTLES’ DOCTRINE
The first Christians:
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
Acts 2:42
The doctrine of the church did not originate with men. Jesus gave His apostles authority to teach what He commanded.
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…”
Matthew 28:18, 20
The church therefore has no authority to replace the teaching of Christ with the doctrines and commandments of men.
Jesus warned:
“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
Matthew 15:9
HOW CAN WE IDENTIFY CHRIST’S CHURCH TODAY?
We should not begin by asking:
Which church do I like?
Which church did my family attend?
Which church is closest to my home?
Which church has the programs I prefer?
Instead, we should open the New Testament and ask:
What pattern did Christ and His apostles establish?
What did they teach about salvation?
How was the church organized?
How did Christians worship?
What doctrine did they teach?
How did Christians live?
What names and descriptions were used for Christ’s people?
When we find that biblical pattern, our responsibility is not to change it.
Our responsibility is to follow it.
The biblical pattern is:
ONE CHRIST → ONE GOSPEL → ONE BODY → ONE CHURCH → ONE FAITH
“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.”
Ephesians 4:4–6
The question is not:
WHAT CHURCH DO I WANT?
The question is:
WHAT CHURCH DO WE FIND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT?
Open the Scriptures. Examine the context. Compare Scripture with Scripture. Test the conclusions.
ALLOW SCRIPTURE TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE.
The Biblical Pattern
Biblical Studies & Books by Kevin L. Walker
The Biblical Pattern 