When we talk about Church, most people think about the Church as just a physical building where believers gather to worship God. However, the Church is not just a building, it is a community of people who are bound together by the love and faith they have in Christ Jesus. The Church is an important and a central theme in the Bible, through out the Bible, especially in the New Testament, we see how Christ gave instructions concerning the Church. The Church is the body of Christ and it’s purpose is to spread the gospel of Christ abroad, bringing hope and love into the hearts of people. The Church as a community have shared faith and purpose. Many people wonder and ask how can a true Church of Christ be identified, because we all now that the children of darkness have also gone into the world, looking for souls to deceive. Join us in this article as we share some of the core Biblical characteristics of a true Church;
Unity: A true Church of Christ can easily be identified through the strength of their unity. Every Church that is rooted in Christ must be united, having a shared faith, purpose and understanding. If there is no unity, then it is not a true Church.
Prayer And Worship: The only way the Church connect with God is through heart felt prayers and worship. They constantly seek God in everything, not relying on their own strength and knowledge. So one of the ways to spot a true Church is to check their spiritual activities, if it is contrary to worshipping and praying to God, know that it is not of God.
Missions And Evangelism: The Church focuses on evangelizing to bring more souls into the kingdom of God. They actively engage in soul winning, making disciples of Christ in all nations.
Love And Compassion: The Church of Christ have love in their hearts, they speak love, act love and most importantly they spread love to the world. True Church is filled with compassion, their words are seasoned with love and compassion for all those that need it.
Discipline And Mentorship: The Church of Christ reveals what true discipline and mentorship is. The Church which operate on the spiritual rules that Christ gave, not operating on human wisdom.
SEE ALSO: 40 Important Bible Verses About Unity In The Church
What Does The Bible Say About The Church?
The Church is also known as the body of Christ, as earlier stated that it is not just a physical fancy structure. The Church is the people of God, saved by his grace through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross of Calvary. God has magnificent plans for his Church and his plans can clearly be seen in his words. The diverse wisdom of God is made known to the world through the Church.
Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it”. Jesus states in the verse that he will build his church on a rock. The rock here refers to the truth of the gospel.
Acts 20:28 “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood”. Apostle Peter addresses Church Priests. The Priest of the Church of Christ have been given a spiritual mandate to take care of the his flocks.
1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light”. The Church comprises of people who have been selected and adored by Christ. The Church is a holy nation and God’s special possession. Below are more Bible verses that teach about the Church;
Bible Verses About The Church
- There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called. – Ephesians 4:5
- And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. – Matthew 16:18
- They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. – Acts 2:42
- Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. – 1 Corinthians 12:27
- Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. – Hebrews 10:25
- If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. – 1 Timothy 3:15
- And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. – Ephesians 1:22-23
- And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. – Colossians 1:18
- Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. – 1 Corinthians 12:12
- I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD. – Psalms 122:1
- Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. – Acts 20:28
- But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. – 1 Peter 2:9
- For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. – Matthew 18:20
- To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ their Lord and ours. – 1 Corinthians 1:2
- For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. – Romans 12:4-5
- What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. – 1 Corinthians 14:26
- Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. – Acts 9:31
- Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. – Colossians 3:16
- The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. – 1 Timothy 5:17
- For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. – 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
- The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house. – 1 Corinthians 16:19
- Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. – Galatians 6:10
- Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. – Hebrews 13:17
- All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. – Acts 4:32
- So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. – Romans 12:5
- To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. – 1 Peter 5:1-3
- Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. – 1 Corinthians 10:17
- And when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year, Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. – Acts 11:26
- Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. – Philippians 2:2
- So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. – Acts 16:5
- But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. – 1 Corinthians 14:40
- Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? – 1 Corinthians 3:16
- Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. – Acts 13:1
- If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church? – 1 Timothy 3:5
- For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people. – 1 Corinthians 14:33
- For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. – Ephesians 5:23
- In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. – 1 Corinthians 11:17
- Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. – 2 Thessalonians 1:4
- Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings. – Romans 16:16
- If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. – Matthew 18:17
- And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. – Hebrews 10:24-25
- And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. – Acts 8:1
- So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? – 1 Corinthians 14:23
- So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. – Acts 6:7
- So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31
