What Is The Church Of Christ? (The One True Church Of Christ part 1)

THE ONE TRUE CHURCH OF CHRIST

Part 1

Today, many people are truly confused about religion because there are tens of thousands all over the world calling themselves as Christian religion. What makes the people even more confused is the fact that each one claims to be the true Church of Christ. However, how can we identify the one true Church of Christ?

WHAT IS THE CHURCH OF CHRIST?

PERHAPS MANY ARE wondering if what is the Church of Christ. How and why it existed? Let us see how the Holy Scripture or the Bible answers these questions.

How the Church of Christ emerged?

The Church of Christ was established by the Lord Jesus Christ. He explicitly said:

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18 NKJV)

The Lord Jesus Christ said, “I will buil My church.” Thus, there is the Church of Christ because the Lord Jesus Christ established this Church.

How many Church did Christ established?

                                      

Matthew 16:18 proves not only that the Lord Jesus established His Church, but also that Christ established only one Church:

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18 NKJV)

The Lord Jesus said “I will build My CURCH.” He did not said “I will build My churches.” Hence, there is only one true Church established by the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostles of the Lord Jesus also testified that there is only one true Church:

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Ephesians 4:4-5 NKJV)

Apostle Paul said, “There is one body.” Apostle Paul Himself explained what He meant when He said “There is only one body.” In other writings of Apostle Paul he explained that the “Church” is the “body of Christ”:

 “And He is the head of the body, the church...” (Colossians 1:18 NKJV)

Thus, when Apostle Paul said “There is only one body,” he meant “there is only one Church” having “one hope, one faith and one baptism.”

What is the name of the one true Church?

The one true Church established by Christ is called “Church of Christ.” Even Catholic authorities testify that the Church established by Christ is called “Church of Christ”:

“In regard to Matthew 16:18 – St. Cyprian speaks of the building of the Church of Christ, and designates the Church the ‘Church of Christ’…” (Dr. Ludwig Ott. Fundamentals of catholic Dogma. Nihil Obstat: Jeremiah J. O’Sullivan, D.D. Censor Deputatus. Imprimatur: Cornelius Rockford. Illinois: Tan Books and Publishers, Inc., 1954, p. 274)

According to this Catholic book, Cyprian, one of the early Catholic Church fathers, explained that Matthew 16:18 speaks of the building of the Church of Christ. He also explained that Christ designated the Church He established as “Church of Christ.” Another Catholic book has this to say:

“5. Did Jesus Christ established a Church?

“Yes, from all history, both secular and profane, as well as from the Bible considered as a human document, we learn that Jesus Christ established a Church, which from the earliest times has been called after Him the Christian Church or the Church of Christ.” (Cassily, Francis B., S.J. Religion: Doctrine and Practice for use in Catholic High Schools. 12th and revised edition. Imprimi Potest: Charles H. Cloud, S.J. Provincial of the Chicago Province. Imprimatur: George Cardinal Mundelein, Archbishop of Chicago. Chicago: Loyola university Press, 1934, p. 442-443.)

Even Protestant authorities also testify that the Church established by Christ is called “Church of Christ”:

“Christ prophesied the establishment of a new congregation or church, a holy institution that will continue His works on the world. Matthew 16:18. This is the Church of Christ.” (Pearlman, Mayer. Knowing the Doctrines of the Bible. Gospel Publishing House, p. 349)

Thus, both Catholic and Protestant authorities testify that Matthew 16:18 is referring to the establishment of the “Church of Christ.”

Why Church of Christ?

Matthew 16:18 did not only answered why there is the Church of Christ (the Lord Jesus established it) and how many the Lord established (only one true Church), but also it answered the question “why Church of Christ.” Let us again quote Matthew 16:18:

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18 NKJV)

The Lord Jesus said, “I will build My church.” take note that the true Church is built and owned by the Lord Jesus Christ. It is only right that this Church is called after the name of the founder and owner. Thus, why “Church of Christ”? Because the founder and the owner of this Church is Christ.

This fact shows to us that if a church is not called “Church of Christ,” that church is not founded by Christ. How can a church claim that their founder is Christ if they are not called after the name of Christ or in the name “Church of Christ.”

And because Christ said “My church,” then those churches not called after the name of Christ or not in the name “Church of Christ,” thus they cannot claim that they are of Christ or they are His church.

The name “Church of Christ” is important not only to identify which churches is the one true Church established and owned by Christ, but also this guarantee us that this Church is the only one that will truly be saved by Christ come Judgment Day. Acts 4:12 has this to say:

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 NKJV)

               

Therefore, what is the Church of Christ?

The Church of Christ is the One True Church the Lord Jesus Christ established and will be saved come Judgment Day.