Before continuing the search for the True Church, it is but wise
that the inquirer must know exactly what he is looking for. For this
reason, it
is right for us to ask: What is the Church of Christ
as defined and described by the Bible?
24C.1 How does the Bible define the Church?
I Corinthians 12:7,
states:
Now you are the body of
Christ and individually members of it. (RSV)
The Church of Christ being the body of
Christ is an organized collective whole, composed of individual members.
Apostle Paul
describes the church further:
from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
(Ephesians 4:16, NKJV)
Rather, Christ's Church is a tightly
organized structure, composed of individual members effectively joined and
knit together doing each share towards the growth of the body and builds
itself up in love.
24C.2 How did Apostle Paul
confirm the fact that the Church of Christ is a single
organization? To what did he liken the Church?
In Romans 12:4-5, the answer is written:
Just as each of us has
various parts in one body, and the parts do not all have the same function:
in the same way, all of us, though there are so many of us, make up one body
in Christ, and as different parts we are all joined to one another. (NJB)
The Church of Christ is likened to a human body.
As a man is compose of various parts with different functions but attached
to one another forming the human body.
In the same way, the Church of Christ is
composed of many individual members who have different functions, are all
joined to one another, thus forming
the body of Christ.
24C.3
What is the prevailing characteristics of the body of Christ?
Ephesians 4:4-6,
states:
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were 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.
(NKJV)
The prevailing characteristic of the body of Christ is unity.
In the one body—the True Church:
Unity prevails in the true
Church. There is unity in every activity in the church — in faith,
doctrine, practice, hope and knowledge of the Son of God, and in the God they deify.
to knit God's
holy people together for the work of service to build up the Body of
Christ, until we all reach unity in faith and knowledge of the Son of
God and form the perfect Man, fully mature with the fullness of Christ
himself. (Ephesians 4:12-13, NJB)
God's holy people are united in everyway,
all work to serve and build up the Body of Christ until all reach the unity
in faith and knowledge of the Son of God.
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The Church of Christ being the body of
Christ is an organized collective whole, composed of individual members. The Church of Christ is likened to a human body. It
is
composed of many individual members who have different functions which are
joined to one another, thus forming
the Body of Christ. Unity is the prevailing characteristic of the true
Church. There is unity in faith,
doctrine, practice, hope and in the God they deify. All work
to serve and build up the Body of Christ until all reach unity in faith and
knowledge of the Son of God.
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