The church is composed of all Christians.
 
 

• Romans 12:4-5 "For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office, [5] so we being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."
• Romans 8:9, 14 [9] "But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now, if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is not his. [14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
  (The church consists of all the children of God in whom the Holy Spirit dwells, and no one in whom it does not dwell. To "join a church" means nothing and results in nothing, but to be called into the church by being given the very Spirit of Christ is everything.
  Mere affiliation with a religious organization of some sort does not constitute membership in the church in the eyes of God. Also, affiliation with some exclusive religious organization consisting of those who share our cherished doctrinal stances with us does not constitute any kind of real detachment from the one church that consists of all in whom the Spirit dwells.
  God, and God alone, defines who is or who is not in the Body of Christ, his church. This is the word of God, here and elsewhere.)
• 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? [17] For we being many are one bread, one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread."
  (This is speaking of the sacrament of communion, the Lord's Supper, or Eucharist, as it is variously called. The bread of the sacrament represents oneness within the body of Christ (the church), as well as our oneness with Christ himself, which makes us one together. Can we all be one with Christ, and not be one with each other? Only if Christ is divided, which he is not.
  The church's visible physical divisions contradict the church's public declarations to be the body of Christ, and bear false witness, saying to the world that Christ is indeed divided.
  Christ is not divided. The church must reflect truth, not falsehood.)
• 1 Corinthians 12: complete chapter (excerpts) [4] "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit, [5] and there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord, [6] and there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works in all.
  ( this is not admitting to or condoning different denominations with different administrations, holding themselves apart from others in the church, as some might say. It is speaking of administrations and operations at different levels in the church, and in different physical locations in the one unified church.
  All ambiguous scripture must be taken in context, and understood so that it does not contradict scriptures that contain more easily understood teaching. )
  [12] For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ, [13] for by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. [14] for the body is not one member, but many.... [20] but now are they many members, but one body. [25] ...that there should be no schism ( schisma in the original Greek language, meaning a cleft, or, a rent, i.e, division).... [27] Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular."
  (We are many members, with a diversity of gifts to do the work of God, but we are one body. If we would bring our gifts together in the church, we would be able to build one another up in love.
  We tend to segregate together with people of like gifts...those with teaching gifts gathering together in teaching churches, perhaps feeling awkward in developing an open and outward worship service; those with prophecy gifts in churches with other forward looking members with a vision of the "big picture," but perhaps a little weak in doctrinal understanding and brotherly love; those who are strong in a desire to worship and raise their hands in joyful praise are fellowshipping together with brothers and sisters who love to sing and praise, but who perhaps shun and neglect settling down to be fed the strong meat of the word.
  We tend to feel comfortable with those who have gifts similar to our own. When we do this we tend to become suspicious of those who have the other gifts, mocking and criticizing them. We tend to develop doctrinal beliefs for our groups that falsely assume that the manifestation of our own personal gift, or the insight that we possess, or some aspect of our own gift, is the identifying mark of the truly converted person.
  These verses show that this problem is as ancient as the church itself, and still just as damaging to the body as it was then. I invite you to read the whole of 1 Corinthians 12 followed by 1 Corinthians 13. The subject continues unbroken from chapter 12 to chapter 13. In the original Greek text, there are no chapter breaks or numbered verses.)
• Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
  (All means all here. All of us are one in Christ Jesus, whether we acknowledge the fact and act accordingly, or not.)
• Ephesians 5:30-32 "For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. [31] For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. [32] This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church."
  (The marriage institution is used to illustrate the oneness of the church, it's members being betrothed to Christ. Christ does not have "many brides, only one. " We, every Christian included, are members of his body. That is what the church is, by definition.
  Concerning the church, Christ desires to "sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word," and "present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish" (verses 26-27). The bride today is spotted, wrinkled, and blemished in the eyes of the world and in the eyes of God. The word that washes us clean, the truth, tells us to be one.
  A word of clarification is necessary here about this subject. Some will say that the church is perfect in the eyes of God, because it is made perfect by the blood of Christ. Let me make this plain: to say we are spotted and blemished is not to say that we are unclean or unrighteous in the sight of God, for the blood of Jesus Christ has indeed cleansed us, and continually cleanses us, from all unrighteousness. This speaks only of the state of the church, that it does not reflect the oneness of God and Christ in the unifying bond of the Holy Spirit.
  For example, in James 1:27 we are cautioned to keep ourselves "unspotted" from the world. A similar admonition is found in 1 Peter 3:14. This would not be an issue if it were impossible for us to be "spotted."
  We can, as a church and as individuals, be "spotted", even though we are cleansed by the Savior's blood. This has to do with the contrast between the Spirit and the flesh, and the perfect vs. the imperfect.
  As long as we dwell in these fleshly vessels, we can not know the perfection that is to be found when we become completely Spirit. We are capable of sin. This is not speaking at all of being forgiven of sin. Christ's sacrifice stands whether or not we sin concerning the oneness of the church. It is the sin of disunity that we are discussing. If we confess this sin when we recognize it, and repent of it as any other sin, then we are not only forgiven, but we are empowered to keep from continuing in this sin.
  It is not scripturally correct to say that the visible church today is not spotted and blemished, The church is in need of repentance and healing. It is necessary to look at all teaching in context as a part of the whole, and avoid making blanket, all-inclusive statements that cannot be borne out by a thorough study of the word.)
• 1 Peter 2:4-7 "To whom coming [i.e., to Christ], as unto a living stone, rejected by men but chosen of God, and precious, [5] you also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. [6] Therefore it is also contained in the scripture, 'Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect and precious, and he that believes on him shall not be confounded. [7] Unto you therefore which believe, he is precious, but unto them which are disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner."
  (Every member is a living stone in one great house, the church, built on the Great Eternal Cornerstone, Jesus Christ.)

(Please click on any of the highlighted boxes ( ) below to go to the in-depth study of each statement.)

A Christian is one in whom the one true God dwells.
The Holy Bible is God inspired.
The Holy Bible contains all the truth necessary for salvation.
Different translations of the Bible, and various interpretations of scripture and doctrine, may contain errors, but in all major translations the errors are not a barrier to salvation.
Salvation is by grace, a gift from God.
Christian works are the acts of Jesus dwelling in us.
Jesus lives in the members of the church, and the church is his body in this age.
Everyone sins and breaks the spiritual law, even Christians.
To love God and to love our neighbor is the fulfillment of all spiritual law.
God's forgiveness is ongoing and limitless, and available to all who truly accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior.
God will never leave us, nor forsake us.

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