“You are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
From this text and related verses, we find ten important truths about Jesus’ church.
- The church has one builder—Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 3:9–11).
- The church has one purchaser—Jesus Christ (Acts 20:28).
- The church has one head—Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:22–23).
- The church has one Savior—Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:23).
- The Lord has one Proprietor—Jesus Christ. The church is His temple (1 Corinthians 3:16–17); He dwells in it; He adds to it (Ephesians 2:20–22).
- The church has one inheritance— eternal salvation (Colossians 3:24).
- The church is the spiritual body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22–23; 5:23). Just as the church has one Head, it is one body, not many bodies (Ephesians 1:22–23; 4:4).
- The church is the depository of the saved (Acts 2:47). One is placed in the church at the point of salvation. It is impossible to get into the church and not be saved; it is impossible to be saved outside of the church. (It is possible to leave the church after being a member of it, Revelation 2–3; Galatians 5:4.)
- The church is the kingdom of Christ (Matthew 16:18–19; Hebrews 12:28).
- The church is destined for heaven (1 Corinthians 15:24).
