THERE are over two billion people that claim to be Christians. Yet, Christianity is composed of hundreds of denominations and distinctions. How can that be?
Why are there so many different and conflicting practices in Christianity? Have you wondered why there are so many variations?
Now in the Bible, Jesus clearly promised that he would build his Church. Is it the Catholic Church? The Baptist Church? The Lutheran Church? Or perhaps something else?
What does the Bible say? You need to find out. Are you attending “The Church Jesus Built?”
Jesus himself promised almost years ago, “I will build my church” in (Matthew: 16:18 KJV) “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.” Now what church was he talking about? What comes to your mind when you think about that true Christian Church of God, the Church Jesus guaranteed he would build? Perhaps, a magnificent cathedral or a church building with a huge spire?
The architecture of the great cathedrals is impressive. Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, awes visitors from around the world. Isn’t it amazing how the builders of such great structures accomplished such monumental tasks when technology was so simple?    
There’s also the Duomo in Milan, Italy. An imposing Catholic cathedral built to signify strength, piety, wealth and prestige. Is this the kind of church Jesus said he would build?
How about the Cologne Cathedral in Germany? Said to be the world’s greatest Gothic cathedral, it’s been the city’s most famous landmark for centuries. In fact, it took over 600 years to complete and was once the tallest building in the world. It’s still the world’s largest church façade. But, is that the Church of God Jesus referred to?
Then there’s Westminster Abbey in London and America, St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.
These famous church buildings seen to symbolize the height of the Christian church, standing like monuments to ancient Christianity, huge ornate buildings, with remarkable stained glass windows, spiral staircases, expansive interiors filled with religious artifacts and icons, topped with soaring spires that reach to the sky.
Yet, Jesus said he would build his Church; does that Church exist in huge cathedrals? It may be shocking to hear, but none of these are the church that Jesus prophesied he would build.
Why? Well most people view the Church as a building. But did you know that the Bible defines the term church differently. God’s Word focuses on a totally different type of church. Do you know how Jesus defines the Church?
In the New Testament, church is translated from the Greek word ecclesia, which is defined as those that are called out, an assembly or a congregation. So church, in the Bible, is not described as a cathedral. Church in Scripture is not a building.
This is what I mean, my friends. When you meet for worship, one person has a hymn, another teaching, a revelation from God, a message in strange tongues, and still the explanation of what is said. Everything must be of help to the church. If someone is going to speak in strange tongues, two or three at the most should speak, one after the other, and someone else must explain what is being said. But if no one is there who explain, then the one is there who can explain, then the one who speaks in strange tongues must be quite and speak only to himself and to God. Two or three who are given God’s message should speak, while the others are to judge what they say. But if someone sitting in the meeting receives a message from God, the one who is speaking should stop. All of you may proclaim God’s message, one by one, so that everyone will learn and encouraged.
The gift of proclaiming God’s message should be under the speaker’s control, because God does not want us to be in disorder but in harmony and peace. As in all the churches of God’s people, the women should keep quiet in the meetings. They are not allowed to speak as the Jewish Law says; they must not be in charge. If they want to find out about something, they should ask their husbands at home. It is a disgraceful thing for a woman to speak in a church meeting.
Or could it be that the word of God came from you? Or are you the only ones to whom it came? If anyone supposes he is God’s messenger or has a spiritual gift, he must realize that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. But if he does not pay attention to this, pay no attention to him. So then, my friends, set your heart on proclaiming God’s message, but do not forbid the speaking in strange tongues. Everything must be done in a proper and orderly way.
In fact, the practice in the early first-century Church was that Christians often met in member’s home (Romans: 16:5 “Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the first-fruits of Achaia unto Christ” KJV); (1 Corinthians: 16:19 “The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house” KJV). The apostles met and preached and taught God’s people and potential converts in Jewish synagogues. So you see, the building was not the thing that was important – was the people.
In fact, the Bible uses the word church to represent God’s people as “call – out ones” – the people who are called out and brought together. They’re called out of the ways this world and assembled together as God’s people.       
The apostle Paul demonstrated this when he began his letter to the members in Corinth. He wrote,        “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.” (1 Corinthians: 1:2 KJV).
So, you see Paul was clear that the Church was the people God had called out – not a physical building. Revelation: 18:4 also reminds us of this fact. It says, “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues”(Revelation:18:4 KJV).
Now this is a very important distinction: The Church is a spiritual organism, it’s not a physical structure or even an organization. Yes, members of the Church go to the building where they meet, or a congregation meets in someone’s house if the numbers are small, but the Church itself is the spiritual Body of Christ.
The apostle Paul uses that analogy, comparing the Church to parts of the body. Notice what he said: “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ”… “But now are they many members, yet but one body.” And later he says, “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular (1 Corinthians: 12:12:20:27 KJV)”.
Now that brings a vital question to mind: Since the Bible states that the Church is one Body why are there so many different Christian church organizations today? They can’t all be right. Church leaders all claim that Jesus built church. But is it true? 
How can you locate God’s special called out people when Christianity is so splintered and fractured. There is no doubt that Jesus did build his Church as he said he would, and since that Church does exist today, where is it?
Now you’ll discover how many church organizations are influenced by a different spirit and preach a different gospel. You won’t learn this from some human tradition or opinion, put instead you’ll learn directly from God’s Word – how to recognize his true Church.
So as we begin to think about this topic, Jesus certainly said that he would build his Church and that it would never die out. Yet, today’s Christianity, it has hundreds of denominations, conflicting beliefs and practices. It’s not the Church Jesus promised that he would build.
So, how do you find that body of true believers? Surveys have shown that you might be one of those searching. Some 20% of churchgoers change churches every year. So you need to know the key characteristics that identify God’s people. And how do you start?
Well Jesus said that the people of his Church would be known by what they do.  In Matthew: 7:20:21 (KJV). He said this: “wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven”.
You see, Christ was telling us, you need to find other people who are special to God because they do God’s will. That’s the fruit that Jesus says is most important. He also says, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John: 13:35 KJV). You see the special people of God not only do God’s will, they do it because they have the love of God. In Romans: 5:5 KJV He said this: “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost is given unto us”.
You see to God, love and obedience are inseparable. He makes this clear in 1 John: 5:3 KJV. Notice what He inspired: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous”. Believing and doing what God teaches in his word is a vital sign of the Church that Jesus built.
So here’s something critical: Remember the Bible definition of the word church? It’s the people called out and brought together by God. So it’s no wonder that the New Testament instructs Christians to assemble together regularly. Hebrews: 10:24:25 KJV tells us: …”And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good work: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
You see that’s also an Old Testament expression. This tells us the same thing but it puts it in the form of a command. Leviticus: 23:3 KJV says this, “Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest, and holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.” Jesus showed that the Church of God would be observing his Saturday Sabbath even today! Most churches say that the Sabbath law is no longer binding or that God caused Sunday worship to supersede it. But that is not right.
Jesus inspired his Word to show the way to His Church. When searching for His Church, it has to be based on key foundational biblical beliefs. You see observing God’s Saturday Sabbath is one of the most basic. How basic is it? Well it’s so basic that it’s one of the top ten it’s in the Ten Commandments.
So how would you sum up the importance of beliefs and doctrines? The Bible makes it clear that God’s Church keeps his law. The Church Jesus built is described as a group of people. “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation: 12:17 KJV).
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat” (Matthew: 7:13 KJV).
In other words, our first and foremost loyalty is to the true teachings and practices of Jesus; the ones that he taught his followers not the traditions that have been adopted, or added or changed. You see if you take the time to look into it, it’s not difficult to document that most of Christianity’s branches have adopted many non-biblical traditions, philosophy, pagan religious customs, culture traditions. These things oppose the Church that Jesus built.
It would be helpful for you to ask: How well do I know the teachings and practices of the New Testament Church? The Church Jesus built rejects the doctrines of men, the things that they’ve added or changed. It holds strong to his teachings. In Jude 3, it says: “I want to encourage you to fight hard for the faith that was given to the holy people of God once and for all time.”(NCV) That’s the original truths of Jesus, the authentic teachings of the New Testament Church, the faithful word of God.
You see the Church Jesus built has a commission. He gave marching orders to take the good news of the Kingdom of God to the world and faithfully teach others God’s way of life.
Now didn’t give a suggestion in Matthew 28, he gave a command. Notice what he said: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing the in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew: 28: 19 – 20 KJV).
Most churches don’t preach the gospel that Jesus did. Any church that’s not dedicated to carrying out task cannot be called the Church of God.
Where is that hope in his preaching? Do you long for that kind of meaning in your life? Do you desire a closer relationship with God? Maybe you’re just learning the importance of following him and keeping his commandments and beginning to recognize the Church of God that Jesus built.
There is no doubt, much of Christianity today it often opposes teachings of Christ. So remember, the Church Jesus built, it’s made up of humble people not grandiose buildings. He builds his Church with spiritual materials and his people rely on him to help them live by every word of God and strive to follow his example in all things.
So set your heart on God’s Church and his people. Are you ready to search out that Church that fits the true biblical model? Isaiah: 55:6 (KJV) says:  “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.”
Finding the Church Jesus built will take serious Bible study. But God commands it, and He’ll bless and reward you as you respond to his guidance.