It gives me great joy, and a real feeling of pleasure to compile, and send this book forth on a timely, and needed mission.

There is such a vast amount of the false, and so little of the true going out it has become very necessary that the real truth be sounded to the entire world.

The objective of this book is to enlighten, comfort, settle, stabilize, and give Biblical direction to all who read it. There is no intention of reflection, hurting, or wounding anyone, but rather to set forth the full truth in a helpful and scriptural manner. To the genuine born-again child of God, it is desired that you will receive much spiritual light, strength, and comfort. And especially, you who are yoked up with organizations, creeds, and ways of man that are antagonistic to the way of Christ, His Spirit, and His word. It is believed you will rejoice for knowledge showing the plan and relationship God has provided for all His glorious Redeemed family. Furthermore, we believe you will experience more liberty and freedom in knowing, bringing to you abundant joy in experiencing the true way God would have you live, showing how, when, and where you should spend your time, efforts, and money. You then can be one of those whom Paul described in Romans 8:21, “Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Children of God.”

With a great feeling of tenderness, and a heart full of love, and kind thoughts for everyone we send this book forth as a light and guide from God during these days of worldwide unrest, and gross confusion that is so destructive to the cause of Christ and eternity bound souls. Our prayer is that God will bless this truth to the present and eternal good of all.

Yours in the Faith,
Lawrence J. Chesnut B.Th. D.D. Ph.D.

Chapter I
The Divine Plan of The Church

The Word Church is the rendering in the Common English version of the New Testament of the Greek term Ecclesia. The sense of the English term Church in the New Testament is determined wholly by the meaning of the Greek term Ecclesia. Ecclesia, therefore denotes an assembly summoned, or called out, a company selected, or separated from the multitude. Both the calling and calling out are moments to be remembered when the word is assumed in a true Christian and Biblical insight, and understanding.

The Hebrew Church were descendants of Israel, and were divinely called out from among the heathen and idolatrous nations to be the special people of God. In the New Testament Ecclesia is found one hundred and fifty times, showing from the beginning that Jesus intended for his people to be a special called out people, set free from all sin and from all false systems, and religions formed by man.

In three instances, the term ecclesia is used of the Greek Assembly as in Acts the second Chapter, where it is translated Assembly. Two times it is used in the Hebrew congregation, (Acts 7:38, Heb. 2:12) and translated Church. One hundred and ten times it is used of The Church of God.

Concerning the New Testament Church, it refers to those whom God has called out of all sin, the world, and false religious systems, who are not only saved from sin, but regenerated, meaning empowered to remain free from sin, and live holy in this present world. The Church of God, then, is simply the company of God’s called out ones having received Christ as Savior and Lord. The meaning of the term Ecclesia is of much value in furnishing us a correct view of what is the true biblical Church.

1. The Universal Church (Ecclesia)

The Universal Church (Ecclesia) in its broadest sense is used of the entire company of those whom God has called in all ages whether they be on earth or in heaven. It consists of all the aggregate (one body) of those who have been born again, converted, regenerated (Matt. 16:18).

The Universal Church is not merely the aggregate of all who profess Christianity, but it is that company whom Christ has saved, regenerated, in whom His Spirit dwells, and who are thereby joined to Christ, and to one another, by the Spirit of Christ.

2. The Local Church (Ecclesia)

The local Church (Ecclesia) is also used in the Scriptures of the local Congregation. This is its most common meaning being so used in ninety-two instances in the New Testament.

Here are some examples. “The Church which was at Jerusalem” (Acts 8:1). “The Churches of Galatia” (I Cor. 16:1). “The Church of God which is at Corinth” (I Cor. 1:2) etc.

The local Church is the local embodiment and exhibition of the Universal Church. It is the company of the born again, regenerated persons of a given community associated together according to the Scriptures for worship and the upbuilding of the Kingdom of God.

It is not merely an association of persons who have joined themselves together for social, benevolent or even a religious purpose. A true Biblical local Church is divinely organized in the sense that it is composed of those who are saved, and living free from sin, all having the same Spirit (the Spirit of Christ), and who are joined to the living Head of the body, which is Christ. The association and fellowship together is on the same basis of this spiritual relationship divinely effected, and by members recognition of one another as being related.

God’s Divine form is perfect. Note carefully the completeness.

1. A perfect God—All wise, all knowing, and all powerful.

2. Perfect Law—“The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul” (Psa. 19:7).

3. Perfect plan of Salvation. The words of Jesus. “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48) “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.” “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Heb. 10:1, 14).

4. Perfect experience—“Ye are complete in Him” (Christ) Col. 2:10.

5. Perfect deliverance—Spiritually and Physically. The voice of Scripture: “If the Son (Christ) therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life” (Rom. 6:22). “The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies (Devil) might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life” (Luke 1:73–75).

6. Perfect victory—“O wretched man that I am: who shall deliver me from this body of death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord …” (Rom. 7:24–25). “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world (sin), even our faith” (I John 5:4).

7. Perfect Power—“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Rom. 8:37). “I can do all things through Christ which strengteneth me” (Phil. 4:13).

8. Perfect protection—“The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them” (Psa. 34:7). “And Elisha prayed, and said, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man: and he saw: and, behold, the mountains was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha” (Symbol of God’s protection) (2 Kings 6:17).

It is necessary for one to receive a clear scriptural vision of God’s Divine form an perfect plan, to understand His perfect plan of salvation, and spiritual relationship of all the Redeemed.

To try to harmonize God’s perfect plan, with imperfect man leads to confusion, and error. We are to understand that God clearly revealed His perfect form to show how imperfect man can be made perfect morally and by growth in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Made to mature “Unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the statue of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13).

The perfect plan and form of God is not to be altered or changed in the slightest degree. Man is to receive in abundance the rich graces of the Holy Spirit, to become perfect and matured in soul, mind, and body, enabling him to attain, and maintain, God’s high standard of perfection personally, and collectively in this present life. The coming of Christ, and the Holy Spirit made this possible for all mankind. This is not optional, but a scriptural requirement.

Chapter II
Relationship of the Church and God’s Kingdom

Those who are subjects of the spiritual Kingdom of God, and membership of the Church in its Universal aspect are identical, including all of God’s Children.

In the Gospels this spiritual society is called the “Kingdom,” and so designated one hundred and twelve times, and the church is used in but two instances. A reverse usage characterizes the Epistles, “Church being mentioned one hundred and twelve times, and the Kingdom twenty nine times. Though the membership composing the kingdom, and the Church are identical, yet the two terms are not entirely identical in meaning, but represent different phases of that spiritual society.

The term Kingdom describes an internal spiritual experience, and that society in relation to Christ who rules over it. This is made clear in Rom. 14:17, which states “For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost,” meaning an inner spiritual experience. These Kingdom subjects have a king ruling over them, possessing a kingdom, and are reigning over sin, the world, and false religions in this life.

The term Ecclesia emphasizes another aspect of it: the relationship of its members to one another as an assembly, or spiritual brotherhood, a visible body here on earth. In either the kingdom or the Church all are included who have been born again. The words of Jesus, “Jesus answered, verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of the water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God” (John 3:5). The New Birth also inducts into the family of God, The Church of God. The statement of the Apostle Paul, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (I Cor. 12:13). This makes clear there is oneness of Spirit, nature, faith, fellowship, worship, and work in the plan and way of God.

Chapter III
The Fact and Time of It’s Organization

Did Jesus intend that those who accepted His teaching should be joined together in a society, or was it rather His intention that the principles propounded should result merely in the transformation of the lives of those that accepted Him? If He intended that His followers should be associated in an organization, when and by what authority was such organization effected? Those who deny the divine inspiration and unity of the Scriptures sometimes set the teachings of Jesus against those of the writers of the Epistles, and affirm that Jesus did not intend an association of His followers, but that this idea first arose among His disciples subsequently to His death.

Some other religious teachers of the post-reformation period failing to distinguish between the local and universal aspects of the Church have rejected as unscriptural the idea of an organized Church. Three principal theories have prevailed as to the time of the organization of the Church and the authority to organize it.

The first theory denies that the Church was organized during the Apostolic period, affirming it existed only in germ then, and was fully organized only during the patristic (during the period of early Church leaders and Church Fathers) period of the first six Christian centuries. It assumes the Church Fathers were inspired equally with the Apostles in their teachings and Acts, and that therefore the organization they affected was according to the will of God. This is the theory of the Church of Rome (Catholic).

This theory is objectionable for different reasons, namely one. The Scriptures clearly teach that the Church was fully organized during the Apostolic period. God intended that it should be increased in membership, but not that its form be changed.

The second theory of the authority for Church organization is that God has not given and does not require a particular form of organization of His Church, but that it is entirely a matter of expediency to be determined by the particular conditions and needs of a community of Christians. This is a theory held by most of the Protestant denominations.

This theory is unsound because it ignores the fact that Jesus organized His Church during His personal ministry, and through His especially inspired Apostles.

The third conception as to the authority in Church organization, and the time of it is that the Church was organized by divine authority, its form being determined by Jesus and His divinely inspired Apostles during the first century and no man is to change or set aside that form which was then given. This is the correct view of scriptural teaching.

Chapter IV
When Did the New Testament Church Begin?

That Jesus intended to build a church he clearly stated in the words, “I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18). During His personal ministry He forgave and regenerated those who believed on Him.

In regeneration they were all made to possess the one divine Spirit by which they became related to one another as members of the spiritual body of Christ, and to Him as its head. This was spiritual organization. Shortly after the foregoing words of Jesus were spoken this Church was frequently mentioned by the inspired writers as already existing. Example: “And great fear came upon all the Church, and upon as many as heard these things” (Acts 5:11). Before Paul’s (Saul’s) conversion the Church, the New Testament Church existed, “And Saul was consenting unto His (Stephen’s) death. And at that time there was great persecution against the Church …” (Acts 8:1). Speaking of Barnabas seeking Saul (Paul). “And when he had found him he brought him unto Antioch, And it came to pass that a whole year they assembled themselves with the Church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). They were alive visible human beings composing the Church Jesus said He would build.

Much is said of it as an existing institution in the Epistles. The day of Pentecost is often pointed to as the time of the organization of the Church. Viewed as a body of people brought together through the operation of the Holy Spirit, and for the first time established in definite Church relationship in a concrete organic form this is true. But the Church existed in rudimentary (early stage of development) form before Pentecost, for it is certain that men pressed into the Kingdom of God from the days of John the Baptist. Note the Scripture. “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it” (Luke 16:16). It would be impossible to enter something that did not exist.

Membership in the kingdom and Church are identical the result of regeneration, therefore during Christ’s personal ministry men were becoming members of the Church, the universal body of Christ, although as yet that body was not exhibited to the world in concrete organic form.

But in the Apostolic period, from Pentecost on, there was not only an organization of the spiritual body, or universal church, but the local Church was also organized. This was implied by many statements of the Scriptures concerning the affairs of those congregations.

1. They had stated meetings (Acts 20:7, Heb. 10:25).
2. They had elections (Acts 6:5, 2 Cor. 8:19).
3. They had officers, bishops, and deacons (Acts 20:17, Phil. 1:1).
4. They had government (1 Tim. 5:17, Heb. 13:17).
5. They had recognized membership (Acts 4:23, 2 Cor. 11:33).
6. They gave congregation contributions (Rom. 15:26, I Cor. 16:1).
7. They exercised discipline (I Cor. 15:3, 2 Cor. 7:11). All of these are impossible without a measure of organization, however, God’s Holy Ghost, divine organization does not require written records, lists of members, formal choice of officers, or formal acceptance of members. As doctrinal truth was gradually revealed, as occasion required, so was the organization of the Church gradually effected as the need for it arose.

Chapter V
Who is the Founder of the Church? (Meaning One Who Establishes)

We are told that Abraham “looked for a City which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:10). The writer of the book of Hebrews says to the converted, “But ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the City of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and the Church of the firstborn which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the New Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel” (Heb. 11:22–24).

The City whose builder and maker is God we have come unto in this Gospel dispensation, and it is the Church of the Firstborn, meaning Christ, named The Church of God. Christ who was “God manifested in the flesh” is the founder, builder, and maker of the Church.

The Scriptures state, “Feed the Church of God, which He (Christ) hath purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church, and gave himself for it, (singular) that he might sanctify and cleanse it, by the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:25–27). Jesus said, “Upon this rock (referring to Himself) I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18).

Chapter VI
Who is Its Foundation? (That on Which Other Parts Rest)

The voice of Scriptures gives a clear answer. Note carefully, “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation, he that believeth shall not make haste” (Isa. 28:16). “For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God” (Psa. 18:31). “For other foundation can no man lay, than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (I Cor. 3:11). “And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner stone, in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord” (Eph. 2:20–21).

Only one structure can stand on one foundation. Christ built His Church on Himself. All later-built organizations are without Christ, as their foundation, and must perish.

Chapter VII
Who is Head of the Church? (The Chief Person, Leader, Commander, the Authority)

Notice carefully the Bible answer. “And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him (Christ) to be the head over all things to the Church” (Eph. 1:22). “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up unto him in all things, which is the head, even Christ; from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto edifying of itself in love” (Eph. 4:15–16).

“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is head of the Church, and he is the Saviour of the body. Therefore, as the Church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be subject unto their own husbands in everything” (Eph. 2:23–24).

“And He (Christ) is the head of the body, the Church, who is the beginning the first-born from the dead: that in all things He might have the preeminence” (Col. 1:18).

The head of an institution is its lawmaker. “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our King, He will save us” (Isa. 33:22). “The Lord is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy” (James 4:12). All organisms that make their own laws, creeds, disciplines, and systems, do not hold to the head, which is Christ. Their law-making synods, and general conferences ignore the Divine law-giver, usurp the place of Christ, and sit in the place of God, are not Christ’s Church, which is subject to Him, and are false systems, and movements. Again, there is one head, hence there can be but one body.

Chapter VIII
What is the Door of the Church? (The Entrance, the Gateway)

Thus saith the Lord; “Then said Jesus unto them again, verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.… I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (John 10:7–9). “I know thy works; behold I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it” (Rev. 3:8).

“For through him we both have access by one spirit unto the Father” (Eph. 2:18).

In these Scriptures we can see clearly that Christ is the door of the Church, and salvation from sin is the mode of induction, and that it is a door that stands open continually, and no man can shut it.

Christ is not the door to any sect (man-made) Church, therefore no sect is The Church of God. The experience of salvation does not constitute, or make a person a member of any sect on earth, therefore, they are not The true Bible Church, The Church of God.

All sects (man-made Church, so-called), have a door, a manner of admitting members that is opened and shut by men, hence unlike The Church of God, which no man can open and shut. They are therefore not the Bible Church, the Lord’s Church.

Chapter IX
Who Takes Members into the Church?

The Bible answers: “And they continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all people. And the Lord (not man) added to the Church daily such as should be (were being) saved” (Acts 2:46–47).

“But now hath God (not man) set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him” (I Cor. 12:18).

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, and have been made to drink into one Spirit” (I Cor. 12:13). Here the setting of the members into the body, or adding to the Church, is ascribed to God, to Christ, and to the Holy Spirit. Of course these are one, the triune God.

All true Christians are members, “And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him is no sin” (I John 3:5).

The Only joining to be done, “They shall ask the way to Zion (The Church of God) with their faces thitherward, saying, come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that shall not be broken” (Jer. 50:5). “And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her, and the highest Himself shall establish her. The Lord shall count, when He writeth up the people, that this man was born there” (Psa. 87:5–6).

By committing sin one loses membership; “Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book” (Ex. 32:33). This is the voice and Word of God. “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity, but toward thee goodness, if thou continue in his goodness (holiness, righteousness) otherwise thou shalt also be cut off” (Rom. 11:22). Remember, God never takes man into a sect (man-made Church) therefore, no sect is His Church.

Chapter X
Who are Members of the Bible Church?

In view of the fact, as we have seen, salvation is the process of entering the Bible Church, it follows that no one is in the Church who has not salvation. The Church is one “family in heaven and earth” named from the Father. Paul states, “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named” (Eph. 3:14–15).

The redeemed, saved, family is the household of God. “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19). Then it follows that only the Sons of God, such as are born of the Spirit are in the Church. Sons of God includes all saved humankind.

The Scriptures teach, “He that committeth sin is of the devil …” (I John 3:8). “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for His seed (life) remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (I John 3:9). “In this the Children of God are manifested and the Children of the devil; whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God …” (I John 3:10). It is a Biblical fact, the Children of the devil commit sin, and the Children of God do not. The Apostle John makes it clear, “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not” (I John 5:18).

There are no sinners in the Bible Church, The Church of God. Jesus is the door. In His own word He says, “I am the door, by me if any man enter in he shall be saved …” (John 10:9). Saved, what from? Sin the only thing wrong with man. When saved from sin, one is no longer a sinner, hence no sinners in the Church Jesus is building. But all sects, man-organized, man-made organizations are more or less filled with sinners, therefore cannot be The Church of God, or Zion, meaning the Bible Church.

Chapter XI
The Bible Name of this Church

Isaiah, the prophet said, the Lord will name it. “And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness and all kings thy glory; and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name” (Isa. 62:2).

It will not be an earthly name, after any son or daughter. “Even unto them will I give in mine house, and within my walls a place and a name better than sons and daughters” (Isa. 56:5). It will be an everlasting name that shall not be cut off (Isa. 56:5). There is only one everlasting, eternal name, and that is God. Every converted, saved, born-again Child of God is to have this name, and be called by it.

“Also the sons of strangers, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant” (Isa. 55:6). We will now go to the New Testament to the High-priestly prayer of our Lord and note what Jesus prayed for in this prayer (John 17th Chapter). It contained four basic things concerning the followers of Christ.

First, He prayed for them to be kept free from the world. Second, for them to be kept in His Father’s name v. 11. Third, that they would be sanctified, v. 17. Fourth, that they all may be one, v. 21. These scriptural requirements must be accepted, and practiced to fulfill the will of God, and living pleasing in His sight.

In John 17:11, Jesus prayed. “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to the Holy Father, keep through (keep them in) thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are while I was with them in the world I kept them in thy (Father’s) name” (John 17:11–12).

Because as His family, it takes (God’s) name, which is the family name. The Apostle Paul says, “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named” (Eph. 3:14–15).

What different congregations of Bible Christians were called in the days of the Apostles.

1. “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” (Acts 20:28).

2. “Unto The Church of God, which is at Corinth …” (I Cor. 1:1).

3. “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to The Church of God” (I Cor. 10:32).

4. “What have ye not houses to eat and to drink in?, or despise ye The Church of God …?” (I Cor. 11:22).

5. “For I am the least of the Apostles that I am not meet to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted The Church of God” (I Cor. 15:9).

6. “Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the Church of God which is at Corinth …” (2 Cor. 1:1).

7. “For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews religion how that beyond measure I persecuted The Church of God, and wasted it” (Gal. 1:13).

8. “For if a man know not how to rule his own house how shall he take care of The Church of God” (I Tim. 3:5).

9. “But if I tarry long, that thou maysest know how thou oughest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (I Tim. 3:15).

10. “For ye, brethren, became followers of The Church of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus …” (I Thess. 2:14).

11. “We ourselves glory in you in The Church of God” (2 Thess. 1:14).

12. Because as a family it takes His name—the Father’s name. “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named” (Eph. 3:14–15).

The name of the Church was given by the mouth of the Lord, and was derived from God, His Father. The Apostles respected the prayer of Christ, and kept the Church in God’s name, the family name. God is the family name. When we become a child of God we have no choice concerning our family name. It has been established. Jesus said, “I will build my Church …” and prayed it would continue in the Father’s name, the established family name. The early Church Fathers called it, and referred to it as The Church of God for at least 400 years after its beginning. Clement was pastor of the Church in Rome near the close of the first Christian Century. He, Clement, wrote, “The Church of God which sojourns in Rome to The Church of God which sojourns in Corinth.” Throughout the New Testament, where individual congregations are involved in a given area, these are called Church of God.

Chapter XII
Who Organizes the Church?

The word “organize” is not in the Scriptures. It is defined in the dictionary as follows. “To furnish with organs (parts of definite function) or to arrange in parts; to form in due order. God’s Church is furnished with organs, arranged in parts, and in due order, hence is an organic structure. But who is the organizer of the same? Who furnishes it with organs?

The answer is clearly given in the Bible.

1. “For to one is given by the Spirit the Word of Wisdom; to another the Word of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another the discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit dividing to every man severally as He will” (I Cor. 12:8–11).

2. “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the Church, first Apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues” (I Cor. 12:27–28).

3. “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and unto 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” (Acts 20:28).

4. “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life” (2 Cor. 3:5–6).

5. “He that descendeth is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things. And He gave some, apostles, and some prophets; and some evangelists, and some pastors, and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints; for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the statue of the fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:10–13).

These are sufficient to prove that God furnishes His Church with all necessary gifts of the Spirit, and officers. But who forms it in due parts and order? The Bible answers, “But now hath God set the members, everyone of them in the body as it hath pleased him.… For our comely parts have no need; but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked; that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another” (I Cor. 12: l8, 24–25).

Those whom God saves, fills with power through and by His Holy Spirit, and commissions by the Holy Spirit have the only ecclesiastical authority instituted of God, and this comes direct from heaven, and not from any man-made predecessors, conferences, synods, or systems.

The Church then, is organized by the Lord, who sets all members in the body as it pleases him, and distributes the gifts and challenges by his own wisdom to all members of the body. Men can organize a human, man-made, so-called church, but never the divine body of Christ, which is the Church. Since the Church is organized by the Lord, it follows that all so-called Churches organized by men, lack the approval of God, and are not His church, but unscriptural divisions.

Chapter XIII
How Many Churches has God?

Every description of the divine Church shows its oneness. Jesus says, “Other sheep (Gentiles) I have, which are not of this fold (meaning not Jews); them also I must bring … and there shall be one fold (Church), and one Shepherd” (John 10:16).

We have seen that Christ is “the head of the body, the Church.” As therefore there is but one head, there can be but one body. Note carefully the teachings of the Bible on the oneness of Christ’s body.

1. “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office; so we being many, are one body in Christ, and everyone members one of another” (Rom. 12:4–5).

2. “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all members have not the same office; so we, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one spirit, But now are they many members, yet one body” (I Cor. 12:12, 13, 20).

3. “For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby” (Eph. 2:14–16).

4. “There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God, and Father of all, who is above all, through all, and in you all” (Col. 3:15).

These Scriptures teach without question there is but one true Church, just as there is but one true God. Since we are called by Christ into one body, the call to join various man-made organized bodies, and systems, is certainly of the antichrist spirit, antigod, which is of the devil, and all Christians are commanded by the Bible to come out of it and flee from these man-organized, corrupt systems to the glorious home and Church Jesus has planned and prepared for His own to enjoy in this life.

The idea of Christ having more than one church is opposed by, and antagonistic to the Bible, and a slander on the Son of God. “Now therefore ye (Christians) are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19).

From these and other Scriptures we see that the Church is God’s family, or household, it follows that God has but one church. It would be an awful reflection on the holiness of God to have many wives, and separate rival families as man-made ways claim.

Chapter XIV
But Does the Bible Speak of More Than One Church?

The word “Church” frequently occurs in the plural form, but never in the sense of sects or, denominations. When more than one Church is spoken of it is always the one Church of the living God in different localities. Notice carefully the Biblical record.

1. “They returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified” (Acts 9:13).

2. “They returned again to Lystra and Iconium, and Antioch.… And when they had ordained them Elders in every Church …” (Acts 14:21, 23).

3. “And he went throughout Syria and Cilicia, confirming the Churches …” (Acts 15:41).

4. “Who have for my life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I gave thanks, but also all the Churches of the Gentiles” (Rom. 16:4).

5. “As I teach everywhere in every Church” (I Cor. 4:17).

6. “And so I ordained in all Churches” (I Cor. 7:17).

7. “As I have given order to the Churches of Galatia” (I Cor. 16:1).

8. “The Churches of Asia salute you” (I Cor. 16:19).

9. “Throughout all the Churches” (2 Cor. 8:18). Thus we see that when Churches are spoken of, they invariably denote the same Church of God in several cities, or throughout one or more countries. But there is not the slightest intention of more than one Church in the same City.

Speaking of the Church in various geographical localities, the Apostle says, “So ordain I in all Churches. As I have given order to the Churches of Galatia, even so do ye” (I Cor. 16:1). It can be easily seen that if these New Testament “Churches” were different sects, or denominations as we have today, one preacher could not give orders to them all. We see a vast difference between the Bible Church and denominational division.

The Bible Church, “The Church of God” are all one in Christ. The sects are independent and separate divisions, and many in number. Several denominations exist today in one small town, city, etc., but God only has one Church in the same place, hence we read—

1. “The Church that was at Antioch.” (Acts 13:1).

2. “The Church of God which is at Corinth” (I Cor. 1:2).

3. “The Church of the Thessalonians” (I Thess. 1:1).

4. “Unto the seven Churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea” (Rev. 1:11).

From the Scriptures we see only one Church in one City. When messages were sent to seven Churches in Asia, seven different cities had to be addressed. All the saved of God in any place constitute His Church in that place. Then it follows that a plurality of separate faiths in the same place are not God’s Church but Babel confusion. The Bible does not teach that it’s unscriptional to have different congregations of The Church of God in any given locality, but it does condemn a plurality of separate, man-made divisional beliefs, and systems that serve only to divide God’s redeemed people.

May the God of heaven, and the Lord Jesus Christ, through His Holy Spirit bless this glorious truth to the present and eternal good of all is our earnest prayer.

Yours in Christ,
Lawrence J. Chesnut
Th. D.D. Ph.D

[ The End ]