The word “church” is first used in the Bible in Matthew 16:18.
Jesus promised to build His church (Matthew 16:18), and He kept that promise, as we later read in the Bible about the church being in existence.
Jesus is the Builder of the church (Matthew 16:18).
Jesus is the Foundation of the church (1 Corinthians 3:11).
Jesus’ church does not belong to any human, but rather it belongs to Jesus. He bought it with His blood (Acts 20:28).
Jesus’ church is old . . . really old. It began a few days after He went back to heaven. We read about its beginning in Acts 2 –– that was nearly 2000 years ago.
Jesus’ church did not begin in Europe or North America. It started in the city of Jerusalem (Acts 2:5).
In the Bible, members of Jesus’ church are called neither “Protestants” nor “Catholics.” Instead, they simply are called “Christians” (Acts 11:26).
Jesus promised to build one church, not many. He said “my church,” not “churches” (Matthew 16:18).
Jesus loved the church and gave Himself for it (Ephesians 5:25).
Jesus Himself is the Head of His church (Ephesians 5:23).
Jesus is the Savior of His spiritual body, the church (Ephesians 5:23).
Jesus wants His church to be in subjection to Him in all things (Ephesians 5:24). We do that by obeying His word.
Jesus’ church is not a material building (Acts 8:1), but it is His assembly, the called-out group of people who follow Him.
No one can “join” Jesus’ church; the Lord adds saved people to it (Acts 2:47).
— An article written by Roger D. Campbell