The Great Questions of Life
 

What is the True Church?  

What is the Church all about?

 

And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
(Bible, Colossians 1:18)

So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
(Bible, Romans 12:5)

 

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What is the True Church?

Have you ever wondered what the word "church" means? And, if there is such a thing, what does it do? Is there any reason you should belong to a church? If you are interested in knowing what is happening to the church, then this chapter will be of special interest to you.

What Does "Church" Mean?

The word church has several meanings: those who belong to Christ, the local church, or a national church or denomination. Each of these will be addressed in the following section.

Those Who Belong to Christ

Jesus said: "I will build my church." The word He used means "called out ones." Christ calls us out to follow Him. We leave our old life of sin and become members of that great body of called out ones who recognize Jesus as their Head. This is the true Church . Only God knows who all of its members are. Many of them are already in heaven.

 

For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.
(Bible, Matthew 18:20)

Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.
(Bible, Colossians 4:15)

 

The apostles and elders met to consider this question. With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
(Bible, Acts 15:6, 23, 41)

 

The Local Church

In any community those who share the same faith in Christ get together regularly to worship Him, just as they did in Bible times. They form a local church and work together for the Lord.

National Church or Denomination

A national church, or denomination, is an organization of many local churches. They help one another and can do much more for the Lord by working together than they could separately. They publish literature, train ministers, open up new churches, and operate schools and orphanages. The leaders of the national church or denomination help the local churches with their problems, as the apostles did in Bible times.

The Church Building

The word church also means a building where God's people meet together. Whether it is large or small, richly decorated or simple in form is not important. What really matters is God's presence there.

What Does The True Church Do?

Church in this section refers to the body of Christ as it works through local and national churches.

The True Church Loves God and Lives for Him

God wants us to love Him fully and completely. He made us so that we could be His children, enjoy His love, and love Him too. The church meets with God in worship. Together and individually its members express their love to God in prayer, praise, music, giving, Christian service, and obedience to His commands.

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