The Church’s One Foundation

Facts Regarding The Church That Are Beyond Dispute • Jesus declared His intent to build His church – Matt. 16:13-19 - “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am? 14 So they said, Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. 15 He said to them, But who do you say that I am? 16 Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 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. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Facts Regarding The Church That Are Beyond Dispute • He promised that we will be part of the structure – 1Cor. 3:9-11 - “For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” – Eph. 2:20 - “Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone”

Facts Regarding The Church That Are Beyond Dispute • He promised that we will be part of the structure – 1Peter 2:4-8 - “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame. 7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone, 8 and A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense. They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.”

Facts Regarding The Church That Are Beyond Dispute • The church is composed of all of the saved, both living and dead – Heb. 12:22-24 - “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.”

Facts Regarding The Church That Are Beyond Dispute • There is only one church – Eph. 4:4 - “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling”

• It is the body of Christ – Eph. 1:22-23 - “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

Facts Regarding The Church That Are Beyond Dispute • It began on the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, following the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ – Luke 24:49 - “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” – Acts 2:1-4, 36-41, 47

Facts Regarding The Church That Are Beyond Dispute • The Lord keeps the membership roster; only the Lord knows those who are truly His – Heb. 12:23 - “To the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect” – 2Tim. 2:19 - “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: The Lord knows those who are His”

Facts Regarding The Church That Are Beyond Dispute • The church holy and without blemish – Eph. 5:25-27 - “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”

Facts Regarding The Church That Are Beyond Dispute • Those in the church who are sin and refuse to repent are cast out by the Lord – John 15:2, 6 - “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit… 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”

Facts Regarding The Church That Are Beyond Dispute • Those in the church who are sin and refuse to repent are cast out by the Lord – Rom. 11:19-22 - “You will say then, Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in. 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.”

Facts Regarding The Church That Are Beyond Dispute • There is no salvation outside of the Lord’s church. The Lord has exclusive control over who enters His church – Eph. 5:23 - “…Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.”

Facts Regarding The Church That Are Beyond Dispute • Jesus is the only head of the church in heaven and on earth – Eph. 2:19-22 - “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

Facts Regarding The Church That Are Beyond Dispute • Jesus is the only head of the church in heaven and on earth – Col. 1:18 - “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”

Facts Regarding The Church That Are Beyond Dispute • It can't be divided; Hades cannot assault it – Matt. 16:18 - “… and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

• Heaven and earth are in harmony in the church – Matt. 16:19 - “… whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven”

Facts Regarding The Church That Are Beyond Dispute • Death doesn't impact membership; when one dies, he is still with Christ – Phil. 1:21-23 - “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.” – 1Thes. 5:10 - “Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.”

Facts Regarding The Church That Are Beyond Dispute • The church’s name was chose by the Lord – 1Cor. 10:32 - “the church of God” – Eph. 1:22-23 - “the church, which is His body” – Col. 1:13 - “the kingdom of the Son of His love” – Heb. 12:23 - “the general assembly and church of the firstborn”

Facts Regarding The Church That Are Beyond Dispute • It has an earthly organization – Phil. 1:1 - “To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:” – Acts 14:23 - “So when they had appointed elders in every church” – Acts 20:17, 28 - “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

Facts Regarding The Church That Are Beyond Dispute • The church is God’s soul saving institution – 1Tim. 3:15 - “I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

The Church Is Built On Jesus Christ • And we are that church; faithful, sound Christians are the Lord’s Church – Acts 11:26 - “And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” – 1Cor. 12:27 - “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”

The Church Is Built On Jesus Christ • Who work and worship together in local churches – Rom. 16:16 - “The churches of Christ greet you.”

The Church Is Built On Jesus Christ • Abiding in the apostles’ doctrine – Acts 2:42 - “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” – 1Cor. 4:6, 17 - “Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written”

The Church Is Built On Jesus Christ • Abiding in the apostles' doctrine – Titus 2:1 - “But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine” – 2Tim. 1:13 - “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.”

The Church Is Built On Jesus Christ • Honoring Jesus' prayer for unity – John 17:20-21 - “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me”

The Church Is Built On Jesus Christ • Standing against religious division in all its forms – 1Cor. 1:10 - “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” – 2John 9 - “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.”

The Church’s One Foundation