2. 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?”

3. 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. 

4. 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.
(Matthew 16)

6. 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?”

7. 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. 

8. 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.
(Matthew 16)

9. Christ’s Church
With so many churches today claiming to belong to Christ, how can we identify the one He promised?

10. The Church In The Bible
One head - Eph. 1:22-23

11. 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.
(Ephesians 1)

12. The Church In The Bible One head - Eph. 1:22-23
One body - Eph. 4:4-6; 2:16

13. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;  5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;  6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
(Ephesians 4)
16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.  (Ephesians 2)

14. The Church In The Bible One head - Eph. 1:22-23
One body - Eph. 4:4-6; 2:16
Saved added to it - Acts 2:40, 47

15. 40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.”  … 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
(Acts 2)

16. The Church In The Bible One head - Eph. 1:22-23
One body - Eph. 4:4-6; 2:16
Saved added to it - Acts 2:40, 47
Universal sense - all the saved
Local - Romans 16:16; I Corinthians 1:2

17. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.
(Romans 16)
2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
(I Corinthians 1)

18. The Church In The Bible One head - Eph. 1:22-23
One body - Eph. 4:4-6; 2:16
Saved added to it - Acts 2:40, 47
Universal sense - all the saved
Local - Romans 16:16; I Corinthians 1:2
Bishops & deacons - Philippians 1:1

19. 1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
(Philippians 1)

20. The Church In The Bible One head - Eph. 1:22-23
One body - Eph. 4:4-6; 2:16
Saved added to it - Acts 2:40, 47
Universal sense - all the saved
Local - Romans 16:16; I Corinthians 1:2
Bishops & deacons - Philippians 1:1
Elders in every church - Acts 14:21-23

21. 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” 

22. 23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
(Acts 14)

23. The Church In The Bible One head - Eph. 1:22-23
One body - Eph. 4:4-6; 2:16
Saved added to it - Acts 2:40, 47
Universal sense - all the saved
Local - Romans 16:16; I Corinthians 1:2
Bishops & deacons - Philippians 1:1
Elders in every church - Acts 14:21-23
Elders & bishops the same - Titus 1:5,7

24. 5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you … 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 
(Titus 1)

25. The Church In The Bible One head and Savior, Jesus
One body, the church
Saved added to it
Universal sense - all the saved
Local sense, congregations
Bishops & deacons
Elders in every church
Elders & bishops the same

26. The Church (universal)
Jesus,
The head
No other officers
Individual Christians

27. Scriptural organization:
Local congregations, made up of the saved on a local basis
Each congregation is totally independent, answerable only to the head, Christ
Scriptural organization:
Elders, bishops
Deacons,
Other members

28. National or international headquarters District, or state headquarters
Denominational Plan, still local churches, but … different arrangements for control

29. Scriptural organization:
Local congregations, made up of the saved on a local basis
Each congregation is totally independent, answerable only to the head, Christ
Scriptural organization:
Elders, bishops
Deacons,
Other members

30. Apostasy Foretold
Some will depart - I Timothy 4:1

31. 1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
(I Timothy 4)

32. Apostasy Foretold Some will depart - I Timothy 4:1
Itching ears - 2 Timothy 4:2-4

33. 2 Preach the word. Be ready in season and out of season
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.  3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;  4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables (2 Timothy 4)

34. Apostasy Foretold Some will depart - I Timothy 4:1
Itching ears - 2 Timothy 4:2-4
Begin with elders - Acts 20:30-31

35.  30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.  31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
(Acts 20)

36. Apostasy Foretold Some will depart - I Timothy 4:1
Itching ears - 2 Timothy 4:2-4
Begin with elders - Acts 20:30-31

37. And over time ….
One elder elevated over other elders and became “chief” elder
Chief elders in an area meet and choose one to be a bishop
Bishops from different areas meet and choose one to be archbishop, etc.
And finally one chosen to be the earthly head, or pope.
Most denominations are similar!

38. There is a huge difference between Christ’s church and the churches of men!

39. Into Christ
Baptized into Christ - Galatians 3:26-27

40. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
(Galatians 3)

41. Into Christ Baptized into Christ - Galatians 3:26-27
Into one body - I Corinthians 12:13

42. 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.
(I Corinthians 12)

43. Into Christ Baptized into Christ - Galatians 3:26-27
Into one body - I Corinthians 12:13
To be saved - Mark 16:15-16

44. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
(Mark 16)

45. Into Christ Baptized into Christ - Galatians 3:26-27
Into one body - I Corinthians 12:13
To be saved - Mark 16:15-16
Wash away your sins - Acts 22:16

46. 16 And now why are you waiting
16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
(Acts 22)

47. Into Christ Baptized into Christ Into one body To be saved
Wash away your sins
Please note: this baptism was not into some denomination, or after supposed salvation, but into Christ for the remission of sins!

48. God’s Plan Jesus built His church and is head: He adds the saved to it
No national or international headquarters, only elders and deacons in local churches!

49. Man’s Plan
Local churches under state and national and international control of a board or president.
Incorrect teaching about salvation, worship and work.

50. You can’t choose both God and a human arrangement
You can’t choose both God and a human arrangement! Which will it be for you?