Matthew 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
One doctrine that is being compromised today is the doctrine concerning the church. Many people no longer think it is of any importance or relevance.
Unfortunately, they are very wrong. The church is the only thing God is building today for believers on earth. The word means an assembly – or gathering. Over 100 times in the Bible the word “church” refers to a local assembly that meets together. It never refers to a building.
Our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ died for His Bride – the Church. It is the Church that has been given the command to “go into all the world and preach the Gospel.” It is the church that He blesses when it follows Him, and it is the Church that Jesus is coming back for one day soon.
A church has two Biblical officers: pastors and deacons. Pastors are also called shepherds and bishops. Biblical pastors must always be men, because they must be “the husband of one wife” (I Timothy 3:2).
The church is not Israel or an extension of it. There is no connection between the two except that Christ is a descendant of David and the apostles were all Jewish. The Jews rejected the Messiah and church members were kicked out of the synagogues. The fact that the Church is a new and separate entity is the meaning of Jesus parable of the new wineskins (“bottles”) in Matthew 9:17. Israel will one day again be blessed by God when they recognize Christ at the Second Coming.
Some Christians may say they are members of the “universal church.” It is usually given as an excuse why they do not go to church. They never think about the fact that it has never met together, never baptized anyone, never collected an offering, never visited anyone, and never ordained anyone. Of course, it is only an excuse showing that they do not want to obey God – other things have become more important. Also, there is no way anyone can exercise their spiritual gifts if they do not go to church.
Here is what the Holy Spirit commands believers to do in relation to the local church: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). That “day” is almost here. Every believer needs to hear preaching and teaching, needs fellowship with other believers, and needs a place to serve. It is the way of blessing and joy.
A believer is either obedient or disobedient. It is impossible to do both. Christian – do you need to get back in church? If there are problems with your old church, stop using it as an excuse – find a new one. Go to one that teaches the Word of God plainly and wants to see people saved? Why not start this coming Sunday?