Identifiable Characteristics of the Church Mt 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.

My Church What we want to do over the next few moments is to look at some of the characteristics of the Church that was built by and belongs to Christ. Our goal is to help us and others be able to identify among, the many hundreds of churches today, the one that Jesus said would be His Church.

My Car

My Car is a Hard Top

My Car is a Four Door

My Car is a Doesn’t have a Hatchback

My Car is Black

My VIN # is 123456789 You Found My Car!!!!

My Church There are two views of the Church presented in the Scriptures. The first being what we many times call the “Universal Church” and the Local congregation. Universal: Is made up of all Christians everywhere both dead and alive. The Church in this sense has no earthly organization. It simply has Christ as its head. It is the Body of Christ or the Kingdom

My Church The Local Congregation is also called the Church: It is a local group of Christians who have banded themselves together in order to carry on the work of the Lord in a particular area The Local Congregation is an autonomous group with its own organization. It is headed up by Elders and Deacons Lets look at the Universal Church in a little more detail

What is the Universal Church? First lets Identify what the Universal Church is It is the Body of Christ Col 1:24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 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.

It is the Kingdom of God It is the Kingdom of Christ The Church and the Kingdom of God refer to the same thing Up until the day of Pentecost both are referred to as coming in the future Mt 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. Mr 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

It is the Kingdom of God After the events on the Day of Pentecost both are referred to as being in existence Ac 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, Re 1:9 ¶ I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

It is the Kingdom of God Many teach today that the Kingdom is yet to be established but it would have been impossible for the Apostle Paul to be conveyed into something that did not exist or for John to have been a companion in something that did not exist. The “Kingdom” does refer in many cases to our home in Heaven which is to be reached in the future

The Saved are added to it After Baptism The Universal Church is made up of all the Saved Ac 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. It is only after we complete the act of Baptism that God will add us. Baptism is our entry into the Kingdom. Ro 6:3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

The Saved are added to it After Baptism 1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. Ga 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Without Baptism for the forgiveness of sins there is no entry into Christ or His Body or His Kingdom If the Universal Church Is made up of all of the saved then anyone outside of this Church will be lost

Founded by and Built on Christ The Universal Church was founded by and built on Christ. Mt 16:13 ¶ 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?"

Founded by and Built on Christ Mt 16:16 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."

Founded by and Built on Christ The rock (Petra: a mass of stone) that the Church would be built upon was not Peter (Petros: a piece of stone) but rather on Christ 1Co 3:11 ¶ For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1Pe 2:6 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."

Established on the Day of Pentecost The Church we read about in the New Testament was established on the Day of Pentecost in Ax 2 Ac 2:1 ¶ When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.

Established on the Day of Pentecost Ac 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 ¶ And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 "And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?

Established on the Day of Pentecost …Ac 2:14 ¶ But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 "For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 "But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.

Established on the Day of Pentecost …Ac 2:22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know-- 23 "Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 "whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

Established on the Day of Pentecost …Ac 2:32 "This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 "Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. 34 "For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, 35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."' 36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

Established on the Day of Pentecost Ac 2:37 ¶ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." 40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

Established on the Day of Pentecost Here we read of the establishment of the Church and it has been in existence ever since Daniel prophesied about this: Remember Nebuchednezzar’s dream? Da 2:31 ¶ "You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. 32 "This image's head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze,

Established on the Day of Pentecost Da 2:33 "its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 "You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Daniel gives Nebuchadnezzar the interpretation of his dream Da 2:37 "You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory;

Established on the Day of Pentecost Da 2:38 "and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all-you are this head of gold. 39 "But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 "And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others.

Established on the Day of Pentecost We are introduced here to Four world wide empires 1 Babylonian, 2 Medes and Persians, 3 Greek and 4 Roman Da 2:44 "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. The Church or the Kingdom of God was established during the Roman empire and will stand forever.

It’s Head is Christ The Body of Christ has no other head besides Christ Eph 1:22 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. Eph 5:23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

It has a Scriptural Name The Lord’s body cannot be called by just any name but must bear a name approved of by the builder and owner Ro 16:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you. Ac 20:28 "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.

It has a Scriptural Name 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, To call the Church by any other name is simply to go beyond what the Lord has allowed. Col 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Conclusion Is your Church the Body of Christ made up of all of the Saved? Or do you believe there are saved outside of your Church? Is your Church the Kingdom of God? Or do you think the Kingdom is yet to be established? Do you have to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins to added to your Church? Or do you have to say the sinners prayer, just show up, make a contribution or something else? Was your Church founded by Christ? Or by some man? Martin Luther, John Wesley, Henry VIII, etc

Conclusion Was it established on the Day of Pentecost? Or was it established at some later date? Does it have Christ as its Head? Or does it have as its head the Pope or the Southern Baptist Convention or someone else? Does it have a scriptural name? Or does it call itself after some man? Lutheran. Or any other name not found in scriptures? Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian, Seventh day Adventist, Mormon, etc If your Church does not meet the criteria laid down in the scriptures, it is not the Church that Christ built.