When it comes to the church that Christ built, there are a lot of misconceptions. many think that Christ built multiple churches, but this is not the case. In fact, Christ established one church and it came to fruition after He ascended into heaven. But the most important part is the fact that Christ is the scriptural builder of the scriptural church.
In Mathew 16:18, the bible says, “And I say unto you that you are Peter and upon this rock, I will build my church and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it“.
Jesus clearly states that He will be the one building the church. Not Martin Luther. Not John the baptizer. Only Christ would be the one building a church.
He also specifically says that it will be His church. Christ is the scriptural builder of His own church, established in Acts 2.
He also teaches that He will build only one church. He does not say that He will build His “churches”. AndHe uses the singular form of the word to denote unity and singularity. Christ is always pursuing and desiring unity for His people.
“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep[d] through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.12 While I was with them [e]in the world, I kept them in [f]Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is [g]lost except the son of [h]perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
John 17:9-19
Christ is the scriptural builder of one and only one church.
He teaches this concept explicitly in His words. Yet there are a seemingly infinite number of divisions in the world today, and that should not be the case.
No church can claim to be from God if it was built by a man. so examine your church, study its history and decide whether you are a member of the one exclusive kingdom of God and Christ Himself built.
Other Reading: Intrinsic Motivation
