Why The Church of Christ? MATTHEW 16:18

Why The Church of Christ?  Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Why The Church of Christ? I. It Was Foretold By God II. It Was Built By Jesus III. It Has A Sure Foundation IV. It Was Founded in the Correct City V. It Is Biblical In Name VI. Christ Is Her Head VII. The Bible Is Her Guide VIII. It Is Undenominational IX. The Kingdom/Church Is In Existence Now X. Salvation Is Found In The Church

It Was Foretold By God  Isaiah 2:2-3 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”

It Was Foretold By God  Daniel 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.  Matthew 3:1-2 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

It Was Built By Jesus  Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

It Was Built By Jesus  Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

It Has A Sure Foundation  Matthew 16:16-18 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

It Has A Sure Foundation  I Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Matthew 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

It Was Founded In The Correct City  Isaiah 2:3 … for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”  Zechariah 1:16 Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.

It Was Founded In The Correct City  Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.  Acts 1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.

It Is Biblical In Name  Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem

It Is Biblical In Name  I Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus,…  Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

It Is Biblical In Name  I Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth  Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

It Is Biblical In Name  Romans 16:16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

It Is Biblical In Name  “my church” Mat 16:18  “the church” Acts 8:1  “the church of God” I Cor 1:2  “the body of Christ” Eph 4:12  “the church of the living God” I Tim 3:15  “church of the firstborn” Heb 12:23  “churches of Christ” Rom 16:16

Christ Is Her Head  Colossians 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 might have the preeminence.  Ephesians 1:22-23 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Christ Is Her Head  Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

The Bible Is Her Guide  Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

The Bible Is Her Guide  II Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  II Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

It Is Undenominational  Denominationalism – “the tendency to separate into religious denominations, advocacy of separation of religious denominations, strict adherence to a denomination, sectarianism” dictionary.com  “devotion to denominational principles or interest, narrow emphasizing of denominational differences” Webster's

It Is Undenominational  Ephesians 1:22-23 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

It Is Undenominational  Ephesians 2:14-16 “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:”

It Is Undenominational  I Corinthians 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.  I Corinthians 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.  Luke 11:17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.

The Kingdom/Church Is In Existence  Daniel 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

The Kingdom/Church Is In Existence  Matthew 16:18-19 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. nd I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

The Kingdom/Church Is In Existence  Mark 9:1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.  Colossians 1:13 Colossians 1:13 “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”

The Kingdom/Church Is In Existence  Revelation 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Salvation Is Found In The Church  Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.  Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Salvation Is Found In The Church  Acts 20:28 … to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.  I Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.