The "Body of Christ" is the Church, whose head
is Christ Himself.
(Topic 22E) This is the True Church
or the True Religion leading to God. This is
where man can become holy or sanctified—freed
from sin, so he can worship and serve God.
24B.1
Did Christ establish a
Church?
In Matthew
16:18, this is written:
"And
I also say to you that you are Peter,
and on this rock I will build My
church, and the gates of Hades shall
not prevail against it. (NKJV)
YES,
Christ establish His church, when He was
still here on earth.
24B.2 What is the name of the Church purchased by the blood of Christ,
thus establishing His Church?
In Acts 20:28, this is written:
"Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all
the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers,
to feed the Church of Christ which he has purchased with his
blood." (LBP)
The same verse in another version of the
Bible:
"Therefore, take care of
yourselves, and of all the congregation in which you have been appointed
through the holy Spirit as bishops, to shepherd the church of Jesus
Christ, that which he established* by his blood. (Aramaic Bible)
"Church of Christ" is the name of the
Church purchased with the blood of Christ, thus establishing His
Church which is rightfully called after His name. This is the True
Church - the True Christian Church.
24B.3
Why is the True Church in
the Bible also Called "Church of God" and
"Church of the Lord"?
In same verse Acts 20:28 in other versions of
the Bible, it is also called::
"So keep watch over yourselves and over all
the flock which the Holy Spirit has placed in your care. Be shepherds
of the Church of God, which he made his own through
the blood of his Son." (TEV)
Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock,
in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the Church of the
Lord which he purchased with his own blood. (ASV)
Why is it also called
Church of God?
"And all Mine are
Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. (John 17:10, NKJV)
Because God made the Church His own
through the blood of His Son. And, what is owned by Christ is also owned
by God and vice versa.
Why is it also called
Church of the Lord?
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know
assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord
and Christ.'' ( Acts 2:36, NKJV)
Because Christ is the Lord who
purchased the Church with His own blood.
24B.4
There are other churches
mentioned in the Bible, like the Churches of
Antioch, Corinth, Ephesus and others, are these
also part of the True Church?
Greet one another with a holy
kiss. The churches of Christ greet
you. (Romans 16:16, NKJV)
Correct, these are the local
congregations of the True Church in
different locations. and named after the
place. All local congregations are
part of the True Church—the true Church of
Christ.
____________
Christ established His Church in first century
in Jerusalem. The church is rightfully called
the "Church of Christ" because it is Christ who
purchased the church with His own blood. It is
also called "Church of the Lord" and "Church of
God" in other versions of the Bible.
_____________________________________________________________