The Identity of the Church

Text: Matthew 16:13-18

  I. Christ established church and provided for the 
     perpetuity of the church.
     A. Church purchased by blood – explain how Acts 20:28.
     B. Church made up of the redeemed.
     C. Church established today by preaching Gospel. 
        Corinth – Acts 18:1-8; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2
     D. Seed reproduced after its kind.
     We want to learn the Identity of this church which 
     Christ built.

 II. Every figure in the New Testament that refers to the 
     church teaches its oneness.
     A. One Head of one Body. Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4.
     B. John 18:36 – there is one King – over one Kingdom.
     C. 2 Corinthians 11:2 – There is one husband – of one 
        bride.
     D. John 10:11, 16; Ephesians 2:12-22 – There is one 
        shepherd – over one flock.
     E. 1 Corinthians 3:9-11 – There is one building – upon 
        one foundation.
     F. The fact that there is one and only one true church 
        cannot be denied without evading and denying the 
        plain teaching of the Bible.
     G. Fact that the church is the product of the word 
        indicates the oneness of it. – “Seed” 
        1. Seed produces after its own kind. Genesis 1:11-
           12.
  V. Those who became Christians in New Testament were all 
     members of the same church.  There were no 
     denominations.
     A. When the gospel was first preached on Pentecost 
        those who obeyed were added to the church.
        1. Acts 2:47
        2. They were not members of denominations.