Is the Church Really Important?

Only one book in the world, the Bible, can teach us accurately and fully about this widely misunderstood subject, the church. To clearly understand the church, one must first clearly understand two principles relating to the church.

The first principle is that Jesus Christ, and not man, was the builder, founder, head and foundation of the church. (Matthew 16:28, Ephesians 1:22; 1 Corinthians 3:11)

The second principle to understand is that the word ‘church’ means “the called out” – referring to those individuals who have been called out of the world through the gospel and have been redeemed by the blood of Christ. (Acts 2:47; 2 Thessalonians 2:14; 1 Peter 1:18, 19)

The church is therefore the spiritual domain made possible, or purchased, by the blood of Christ. (Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20) The relationship is also described as the spiritual body of Christ (Ephesians 1:23; Colossians 1:18, 24) and also as the kingdom of Christ (Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 12:28) hence, we may fairly conclude that:

• Jesus Christ is the Head of His church.
• Jesus Christ is the Saviour of His spiritual body.
• Jesus Christ is the King of his kingdom.

All three of these spiritual institutions – the church, the body, and the kingdom – are one and the same. They refer to the very same spiritual realm or relationship wherein Jesus Christ saves. Christ does not save outside of His church, outside of His spiritual body, or outside of His kingdom.

When a person is baptized “into Christ” (Romans 6:3), he is at the same time baptized into the church of Christ (Acts 2:23-41), the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). The kingdom of Christ (John 3:3-5). These are not three different organizations, but simply three different designations of the same spiritual fellowship in which Christ saves.

Therefore, all – not a few, or some, or many – persons who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ are, without any choice in the matter, members of Christ’s church or body or kingdom.

When these basic Bible teachings are comprehended, men will no longer teach or imply that the church is unnecessary to a person’s salvation. It is true that Christ – and not the church – is the Saviour, but – and this is equally true – the church is that very spiritual body or kingdom that Christ will ultimately save (1 Corinthians 15:24; Ephesians 5:27). The church does not save, It is the body of the saved.

Yes, the church is inseparably linked with Christ, the blood of Christ, and man’s salvation. Christ’s precious blood was shed in order that individual souls might have remission of their sins through acceptance of and obedience to Christ’s will (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 5:8, 9). The Bible teaches that the church was “purchased” by the blood of the Lord (Acts 20:28) inasmuch as all individuals redeemed by Christ constitute the church.

Does, then, one have to be a member of Christ’s church or spiritual body or kingdom to be saved? While man will say “no” through misunderstanding, the Word of God teaches plainly that the church is that spiritual body which Christ will save (Ephesians 5:23). It necessarily follows that if a person wants to be a part of the spiritual body which Christ will save, he must, therefore, be a member of Christ’s church.