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QUESTION 11:
There must be more to a church than calling yourself a Christian and gathering to the name of the Lord?

ANSWER:
Every denomination has created their own charters and creeds. Even the early church fathers, as they were called, had many different ideas. It is strange that so many real Christians want to stick to some system that is totally foreign to the Bible. The latest is the so called “emerging church.” If it is biblical where has it been for the past 2000 years.

What we learn about the church we must get it from Paul’s Epistles. He alone had the revelation of the church, as a mystery hidden in the past. It was to be composed of Jews and Gentiles who were saved and formed into one body. (Read Ephesians 3:5-6) He also was given the charter for the New Testament local fellowship. “ According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.” 1 Corinthians 3:10. This was the church at Corinth. If you read carefully this Epistle you will see him putting in order what is out among them. In doing this you will learn the order or principles of a local assembly.

The foundation he laid is in the next verse, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” Verse 11. Christ is the builder, “I will build my church” Matthew 16:18. He is the foundation, Verse 11 above. He is also the Head in 1 Corinthians 11:3.

In writing to them Paul is dealing with the most carnal church in the Bible. He is putting things in order such as sectarianism in 1:10–12. In Chapter 5: he deals with discipline where sin was among them. This is practically unheard of in the church systems of today. In Chapters 8-10 there we see an association with idols and he corrects them for their idolatry. In Chapter 11: It is headship order with Christ the head of man and man of the woman and God of Christ. He adds in this chapter the head covering for the woman and the order of the Lord’s Supper. In Chapters 12-14, he gives us the spiritual gifts and their use. In it we have the silence of women. Chapter 15, he corrects false doctrine about the resurrection. Chapter 16: We have the time and method of giving of our substance to the Lord.

Any group who takes these corrections is on the way to becoming a Bible church. In order to belong to the One Body, the church, you have to be born again. This only happens when you repent of your sins and trust Christ as your Saviour and Lord. Have you?

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated 5th August 2009, by Shelly Allen