Which Church Will God Save?

What do we mean by “church”?  Grk, “ekklesia, from ek, ‘out of,’ and klesis, ‘a calling’ (kaleo, ‘to call’)”, Vine's  Found 115 times in the New Testament in the Greek. Englishman’s Greek Concordance  “ekklesia” alone, no religious connotation, but simply means, those called out from something to something else by something of a common calling.

 Refers to God’s called people: –Christians the world over., “…on this rock I will build My church (ekklesia)…”.Matt 16:18 –Christians in a geographical location., “…a great persecution arose against the church (ekklesia) which was at Jerusalem,..Acts 8:1 –Sometimes referred to as “universal” and “local”

“Church” & “Kingdom” the same  Christ is Ruler  All nations  Owner  Purchase price  Keys of authority  Terms of entry  Memorial supper  Reigning with Christ  Heaven’s reward  Same people CHURCH is the KINGDOM KINGDOM is the CHURCH

One KINGDOM-One CHURCH  King: –Gen 49:10…..scepter and lawgiver from Judah –Psa 45:6….....throne and scepter of a kingdom –Heb 1:6-9……...…...throne, scepter of kingdom  Kingdom: –Isa 2:1-4, 9:6-7…….…..…….king and kingdom –Dan 2, 7:13-14……………….king and kingdom –Matt 3:2…………...John preached the kingdom –Matt 4:17, 23…….Jesus preached the kingdom –Matt 16:18-19…….….kingdom and church built –Mark 9:1………………..kingdom in first century

1 st Century Preaching  “whole counsel”, “everywhere”...Acts 20:20, 27 1 Cor 4:17  If they preached all truth in every place they preached the one church or kingdom.

Examples of 1 st Century Preaching  Acts 2:14-47, One king, one kingdom, one church One king, one kingdom, one church  Acts 8:4-13, One king, one kingdom, one church

If the……..  OT teaches one church or kingdom in prophesy.  NT preachers preached only one church or kingdom Christ would save.  What did people who were converted in the 1 st century believe when they were baptized?  WHAT WAS PREACHED! “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Rom 10:17  One cannot be saved today if he does not understand the relationship wherein he will be saved. Christians in the NT knew there was only one church where salvation was found.

“Then why so many churches today?”  Did this come from the Bible?  Because of advocates of “only one church” idea?  Why the religious division today?

God’s Principle of Unity is Violated!  “all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”……… Cor 1:10  “speak the same thing”… Pet 4:11; Acts 4:20 Gal 1:11-12  “no divisions among you.”…3 Jn 9-11; Rom 16:17 1 Cor 4:6  “perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”…If the basis for unity is altered, unity is destroyed.

All the “sames” Agree With Scriptures  “message of the cross”…..……..1 Cor 1:17-18  “abide in the doctrine”………...…...2 John 9-11  This is the fundamental principle of UNITY in religion!  Many different churches exist today because of a violation of this principle.

UNITY! “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” ……...1 Cor 1:10

“Does it really matter?”  “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son”……………………………….2 John 9

“Does it really matter?”  “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed”…………………………..……. Gal 1:6-9

“Does it really matter?”  “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. ”……………………….……..…Rev 22:18-19

“Does it really matter?”  It matters enough to cause division—that some are not willing to leave human doctrines and follow only the Bible.  It matters because Paul called division sinful.

How should we view these changes from the one church of the Bible? Just as Jesus did!  “I will build my church”………...…....Matt 16:18  I will save my church……….……..Eph 5: :22-23; 4:4  I will destroy other churches…..…Matt 15:1-14