I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH
by Eddie Snipes
I Will Build My Church
Eddie Snipes
July 2007
The True Church
To begin this study, let us begin by looking at what the true church of Jesus Christ looks like. We frequently call the church building a church, but the church has no building. In its most simplistic explanation, the church is the body of Jesus Christ on earth. The New Testament reiterates this over and over again. In the Bible, the church is often referred to as a local assembly of believers and also the entire body of believers throughout Christianity. The word church is the Greek word 'ekklasia' which means, “a gathering of citizens into an assembly”.
The biblical church is not merely a gathering of a congregation, but the gathering of citizens. This is explained in Philippians 3:
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ
If someone's citizenship is not in heaven, they are not a part of the church. Even more importantly, you cannot build a church on non-citizens. When someone surrenders to Christ and is born into the Spirit, they become a new creation with a citizenship in heaven. Once someone comes to Christ, they become part of the body of Christ or as 1 Corinthians 12:27 states, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”
The true church is built upon the individual citizens of heaven with Jesus Christ as the head. Many church denominations and individual churches teach that the pastor is the head of the church. This is far from biblical. Consider Ephesians 5:23-27
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. 25 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 Himse ...
Eddie Snipes
July 2007
The True Church
To begin this study, let us begin by looking at what the true church of Jesus Christ looks like. We frequently call the church building a church, but the church has no building. In its most simplistic explanation, the church is the body of Jesus Christ on earth. The New Testament reiterates this over and over again. In the Bible, the church is often referred to as a local assembly of believers and also the entire body of believers throughout Christianity. The word church is the Greek word 'ekklasia' which means, “a gathering of citizens into an assembly”.
The biblical church is not merely a gathering of a congregation, but the gathering of citizens. This is explained in Philippians 3:
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ
If someone's citizenship is not in heaven, they are not a part of the church. Even more importantly, you cannot build a church on non-citizens. When someone surrenders to Christ and is born into the Spirit, they become a new creation with a citizenship in heaven. Once someone comes to Christ, they become part of the body of Christ or as 1 Corinthians 12:27 states, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”
The true church is built upon the individual citizens of heaven with Jesus Christ as the head. Many church denominations and individual churches teach that the pastor is the head of the church. This is far from biblical. Consider Ephesians 5:23-27
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. 25 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 Himse ...
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