Original collection
Nature of the Church
The church belongs to Christ. He promised to build it, purchased it with His blood, is its Head and Savior, and makes His people God's household and holy temple. God's eternal purpose is made known through the church, and congregations remain accountable to Christ's doctrine.
Key KJV Scriptures:
Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:10-11; 5:23-27; 2:19-22; Colossians 1:18
Key KJV Scriptures: Full Text
16 indexed verses · Showing 1–16. Read each passage in its chapter context.
Matthew 16:18 (KJV)
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.
Acts 20:28 (KJV)
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 1:22 (KJV)
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Ephesians 1:23 (KJV)
Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Ephesians 2:19 (KJV)
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Ephesians 2:20 (KJV)
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Ephesians 2:21 (KJV)
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Ephesians 2:22 (KJV)
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Ephesians 3:10 (KJV)
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
Ephesians 3:11 (KJV)
According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Ephesians 5:23 (KJV)
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.
Ephesians 5:24 (KJV)
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Ephesians 5:25 (KJV)
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Ephesians 5:26 (KJV)
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Ephesians 5:27 (KJV)
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.
Colossians 1:18 (KJV)
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.