Lesson 17 - Which Church Is Our Church?

1. WHICH CHURCH IS THE SAVING CHURCH?

John 3:16 — For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Galatians 3:26 — You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:19,20 — Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief corner stone.

The saving church is the church that includes all those, and only those, who trust Jesus as their Savior from sin.

2. HOW MANY PEOPLE BELONG TO THIS CHURCH?

Galatians 3:26 — You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

1 Samuel 16:7 — The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

Only God knows how many belong to the church, because only God can tell the difference between real faith and imitation faith. Therefore the saving church is also an invisible church.

3. WHAT HAS JESUS DONE FOR ALL THE MEMBERS OF THIS CHURCH?

Ephesians 5:25-27 — Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

John 10:27,28 — My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

Jesus Christ has taken away their sins and has given them eternal life. Therefore this church is called the HOLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

4. WHY ARE THERE SO MANY DIFFERENT CHURCHES?

1 Peter 2:1 — But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them.

Matthew 7:15 — Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

There are many churches because there are many false teachers.

5. WHICH ONE OF THESE MANY CHURCHES SHOULD BE OUR OWN CHURCH?

John 8:31,32 — If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Matthew 28:20 — Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Romans 16:17 — I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

We should choose a church that faithfully teaches all of God’s truth, and nothing more. We should also avoid participation in other churches or forms of worship. (This includes semireligious organizations which do not consider themselves churches.)

6. HOW DO WE KNOW WHICH CHURCH TEACHES GOD’S TRUTH?

1 John 4:1 — Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2 Timothy 2:15 — Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

We should study the Word of God, and then test the teachings of a church to see if they agree with the Word of God.

7. WILL MEMBERS OF A FALSE CHURCH BE SAVED?

John 3:18 — Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Although Jesus condemns false teaching, those who believe in him have eternal life, in spite of any false beliefs they may have learned. Those who do not believe in him do not have eternal life, no matter how correct their church may be.

8. WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO RUN THE CHURCH?

Ephesians 1:22,23 — And God placed all things under his [Jesus’] feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body.

Jesus is the Head of the church.

Matthew 18:20 — For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

Jesus rules the church through believers who come together in his name.

1 Peter 2:9 — But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood; a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Every believer has a right to run the church.

Acts 20:28 — Guard yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.

God has chosen some to lead his flock.

1 Corinthians 14:33,34 — As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says.

Jesus rules the church. He does this through believers who are guided by his Word. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they call men to be their pastors and teachers, to lead them in the work of the church. It is by God’s order that only men serve as pastors.

9. WHAT HAS JESUS COMMANDED HIS CHURCH TO DO?

Matthew 28:19,20 — Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

The church should baptize and teach God’s Word throughout the world.

John 20:23 — If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.

Matthew 18:15-17 — If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

The church has the power to forgive those Christians who are sorry for their sins. This done publicly in the Sunday worship service. The church must likewise condemn those who will not repent. This is called “excommunication.” Anyone who is excommunicated will go to hell unless he repents and receives forgiveness.

1 John 1:8,9 — If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:20 — We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

We should privately confess our sins to God and be sure that he forgives us for Jesus’ sake. We may also confess our sins personally to the pastor and receive forgiveness from him as the representative of Christ.

SUMMARY: There is really only one church. It includes all who believe that Jesus has taken away their sins and has given them eternal life. Members of this church may come from many different earthly churches, but only God knows for sure who they are. Therefore this church is called the invisible church.

At the same time God requires pure teaching in our churches. We must therefore insist upon it in our own church, and avoid churches and organizations which don’t have it.

God has given his church the job of bringing salvation to the world. This responsibility belongs to all Christians under the leadership of the pastors and teachers whom they have chosen. The work of the church includes declaring God’s forgiveness to the repentant sinner. This forgiveness may be granted privately by the pastor to the sinner. The church must also deny forgiveness to those who do not repent.

QUICKIE QUIZ (T or F)

___ The invisible church includes all who have the true teaching.
___ Everyone in the invisible church is going to heaven.
___ Only God knows who belongs to the invisible church.
___ The correct name of the invisible church is the Holy Catholic Church.
___ As long as you believe in Jesus, it doesn’t make any difference what church you join.
___ It is proper for a Christian to belong to a lodge.
___ It is wrong for a Lutheran to worship in a Methodist church.
___ Lutherans of different synods should not worship together.
___ No man has the power to forgive sins.
___ A pastor must not reveal a sin that has been confessed to him in private.

WHERE DOES THE BIBLE SAY

that faith in Jesus makes us members of God’s family?

Ephesians 2:19,20 — Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief corner stone.
that only God knows who the real believers are?

1 Samuel 16:7 — The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
that a church should teach all that Jesus taught?

Matthew 28:20 — Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
that believers are priests?

I Peter 2:9 — But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood; a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
that the church can forgive sins?

John 20:23 — If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.

For more information you can watch this lesson presented as a Bible study HERE. Please click HERE to find the complete series of Bible studies.

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