The Church
The church is the blood bought institution for which Christ died (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25). Its coming was promised by Christ (Matthew 16:18), it is part of the eternal plan which God has for the salvation of man (Ephesians 3:10-11), and it is depicted as the body of Christ with Christ himself being its head (Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18). Membership in the church is not determined by man, but by God (Acts 2:47).
The church is the blood bought institution for which Christ died
- Acts 20:28: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
- Ephesians 5:25: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”
- Matthew 16:18: “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
- Ephesians 3:10-11: “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
- Ephesians 5:23: “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.”
- Colossians 1:18: “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
- Acts 2:47: “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”