A. Jesus promised: I will build my church! Matt.16:18
1. Jesus asked: Whom do men say that I am? Matt.16:13
2. Disciples said: Some say that thou art John the Baptist.
Some say, Elias; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Matt.16:14
3. He said: Who do men say that I am? Matt.16:15
4. Peter said: Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Matt.16:16
5. Jesus answered: Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona:
for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Matt.16:17
6. 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. Matt.16:18
B. Jesus prayed for complete unity of all his believers on earth! Jn.17:20-23
1. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word:
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us:
that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. Jn.17:20-21
2. And the glory which thou gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: Jn.17:22
3. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that
thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Jn.17:23
C. The name churches of Christ in the Bible!
1. Church of Christ which Christ purchased with his own blood. Ac.20:28
2. Churches of Christ salute you! Ro.16:16
3. Churches of Christ which were in Judea! Gal.1:22
4. Christ is the head of the body, the church. Col.1:18
5. Christ and church is likened as husband and wife! Eph.5:31-32
a. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife,
and they two shall be one flesh. Eph.5:31
b. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Eph.5:32
c. The two become one unit as the one church of Christ!
*** Too bad, only God’s chosen people can understand this one!
D. One gospel seed produce one church of Christ! Lk.8:5-15
1. A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed,
some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. Lk.8:5
2. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up,
it withered away, because it lacked moisture. Lk.8:6
3. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. Lk.8:7
4. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bear fruit a hundredfold.
And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Lk.8:8
5. And his disciples asked him, saying: What might this parable be? Lk.8:9
6. And he said: Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God:
but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see,
and hearing they might not understand. Lk.8:10
7. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Lk.8:11
8. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil,
and take away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. Lk.12
9. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy;
and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. Lk.8:13
10. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked
with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. Lk.8:14
11. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word,
keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. Lk.8:15
E. Conclusion:
1. Not church of Christ is a result of sowing not the same gospel seed! Lk.8:5-15
2. The NIV Bible says: not church of Christ will be eternally condemned! Gal.1:8
3. All denomination participants will be in hell for disobey theseà Eph.6:1, 1Cor.1:10, 2Jn.1:10-11
May the Lord bless you and keep you always! Written January 31, 2019.