We Are The Church
Matthew 16:17-19 (NKJV) Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
The Universal Church is made up of every believer who will ever live.
Revelation 7:9-10 (NLT) After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. 10 And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”
1. We can see our connection to the believers who have run before us
Hebrews 11:32-40 (NLT) How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. 33 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. 35 Women received their loves ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. 36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. 38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. 39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. 40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.
2. We can see we are one with all believers around the world
Ephesians 4:4-6 (NLT) For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.
The church is ONE body with MANY members.
The church is ONE temple with MANY stones.
The church is ONE flock with MANY sheep.
The church is ONE nation with MANY citizens.
The church is ONE vine with MANY branches.
The church is ONE family with MANY brothers and sisters.
The church is ONE army with MANY soldiers.
3. We can see God is doing something bigger than one person, local church, or
denomination
Ephesians 3:14-15 (NKJV) For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named…
The Local Church is made up of a group of believers from a particular town who have been marked by their decision to follow Jesus and consistently gather to worship, fellowship, and grow together.
Matthew 18:15-19 (NIV) If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the [local] church; and if they refuse to listen even to the [local] church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them.
Once we became a believer we automatically became a part of the Universal Church, but we have to make a deliberate decision to become a part of a Local Church.
Jesus never turned His back on the church, rather He purified it and ultimately died for it.
So many have believed a lie that they can thrive in their faith apart from other Christians.
God refers to us as…
Body (1 Cor 12)
Household (Eph 2)
Family (Eph 1)
Children (1 Jn 3)
Living stones (1 Pet 2)
Army (2 Tim 2)
Branches (Jn 15)
Flock (1 Pet 5)
Christianity was never meant to be walked out in isolation.
“God’s plan is for every believer who has become part of the universal church by faith in Jesus Christ to be physically added to a local church and to become a functioning part of it.”
Acts 2:40-47 (NKJV) And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.