₦airaland Forum

since economy change i call her recession

The match between NDA VS BUHARI will commence after the sala meanwhile NDA yesterday during the cost of their training at NNPC,CHEVRON pipeline blew it to some extent.lets wait tommorow if the moon will make it out

Buhari must not die,he will be alive to withness BIAFRA

Nigeria bridge is falling down falling down falling down

Trad is the one approve by us,born wit us,so white wed is a game while court is necessary if and only if u wil travel

Children of rising sun in captivity,but what is the end of pharoah.biafra will come as a surprise

NO FUTURE IN NIGERIA

Niaja going...going

hahaha , my mom will spit on the ground and tell me to come back before the spit dry off, if the spit dry na wahala

Girl's if you are not submissive start tutorial now that you are single so that God will help you develop into a humble human being

IPOB is the only one that will offer legit passport,just wait for the time to come

I will sell the country immediately so that another person will manage the country it is full of fraud

that's to say the guys destiny will be lost since she locks it with lux

Everyone getting married today wants to do this so called white wedding in the church. But I have been reading the bible and I am yet to see where an event of church wedding or solemnization of marriage of joining two people together took place in the bible. I guess the marriage Christ attended that was recorded in the Bible was a traditional marriage. So where in the world did this church wedding come from? I think it is wrong for Christians to be practicing right in the churches something like this that is not supported by the Bible. I suppose, for the Christians, practicing anything outside the Bible is a sin. Therefore Church wedding is a sin!

Freedom for IPOB Eastern Pilot wrote: Our team was at one of the banks in Enugu for some transactions in the early hours of today. While inside the banking hall, a young man in his twenties working as private security in the bank was clutching a copy of today's SUN Newspaper that reads: FG jams Radio Biafra, with a rider, Goes after sponsors. What drew the attention of our team was that in-between the lines, the young man used his blue pen to counter what was written on the paper (as attached pictures show). And when we cornered him, he opened up to what will shock the bank management and the Nigerian state. There are Biafran cells everywhere, Biafran moles have indeed penetrated into the unthinkable circles. You the NBC spokesperson or Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information that is flicking your mouth, saying you have successfully jammed Radio Biafra signals watch it; the security fellow guarding you might just be a Biafran mole. Things are really working well for the Biafrans. The RBL strategy so far has proved impregnable and Nigeria has got no solution at the moment.

BIAFRA WILL STAND,DONT BE AFRAID WE ARE COMING

Proudly agric nd bio environ engr

What is the fate of agriculture engineer in nigeria?

Stamford bridge is falling down,falling down, stamford bridge is falling down my mourinho

Valentine died for love, Romeo also died for love, Jack in titanic died for love, Samson in the Bible died for love, Greek heroes Hercules & Archilles died for love & even Jesus Christ died for love! where are the women? Don't buy any woman a Valentines treat this year until she gives you at least 5 names of women who died for love. Send this to all the males you know let's boycott this valentine. Hehehehe !-)

Naira bet inclusive

Efficacious love

Both of u wil hv to die so dat ur marriage cn wrk

Fair ladies are directly proportional to most guys

God created them when he was less busy,

The very popularity of Christmas should cause the Christian to
question it. Anyone and everyone can celebrate Christmas without
question -- outright pagans, nominal Christians, and even Buddhists
and Hindus. If, in reality, December 25th were a date set by God to
remember the birth of Jesus, there is no doubt that the world would
have nothing to do with it. After all, God has commanded one day in
seven -- the Lord's Day -- to worship Him. Does the world observe it?
Of course not. As expected, the world loves Christmas, but hates the
Lord Jesus Christ (John 15:18, 23-25). It shuns anything pertaining
to true religion. Shouldn't the Christian be just a little suspicious of a
celebration in which the whole sinful world can join without qualms?
One way to test the Scripturalness of our practices is to reflect on
what we would expect missionaries to teach new converts in a foreign
culture. We assume that they would use the Bible as their guidebook.
If they could start new local churches without importing American
culture encumbered with Roman Catholicism, liberal Protestantism,
and crass commercialism, wouldn't it be wonderful? Missionaries who
have urged new converts to forsake all pagan superstitious relics
have later been questioned about the apparent inconsistency of their
own American Christmas customs. Nationals perceived them as
idolatrous even though the missionaries were oblivious to that
possibility!
When Christmas is exposed for what it really is, this angers people. It
angers Evangelical Protestant people! And there is reason why it does
so. When the pagan celebration of Christmas is rooted up, and
rejected, then what has become a Protestant tradition is, in effect,
being rejected! And that is why people become angry. It began as a
Roman Catholic holy day, and then it became a Protestant holy day.
And if anyone dares show it up for what it really is, they face the
wrath of the Protestant religious machine. And these days, that can
be very ugly.
Christmas is a thoroughly pagan holiday -- in its origin, in its trappings,
and in all its traditions. Perhaps we should contemplate the words of
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, delivered in a Lord's Day sermon on
December 24, 1871:
"We have no superstitious regard for times and seasons. Certainly
we do not believe in the present ecclesiastical arrangement called
Christmas: first, because we do not believe in the mass at all, but
abhor it, whether it be said or sung in Latin or in English; and
secondly, because we find no Scriptural warrant whatever for
observing any day as the birthday of the Saviour; and
consequently, its observance is a superstition, because [it's] not of
divine authority. Superstition has fixed most positively the day of
our Saviour's birth, although there is no possibility of discovering
when it occurred. ...
"It was not till the middle of the third century that any part of
the church celebrated the nativity of our Lord; and it was not till
very long after the Western church had set the example, that the
Eastern adopted it. Because the day is not known, therefore
superstition has fixed it; ... Where is the method in the madness of
the superstitious? Probably the fact is that the holy days were
arranged to fit in with the heathen festivals. ... We venture to
assert that if there be any day in the year of which we may be
pretty sure that it was not the day on which the Saviour was born,
it is the twenty-fifth of December. ... regarding not the day, let us,
nevertheless, give God thanks for the gift of His dear Son."
And from Dr. H.A. Ironside's Lectures on the Book of Revelation
(1920: p. 301):
"It is a lamentable fact that Babylon's principles and practices are
rapidly but surely pervading the churches that escaped from Rome
at the time of the Reformation. We may see evidences of it in the
wide use of high-sounding ecclesiastical titles, once unknown in the
reformed churches, in the revival of holy days and church feasts
such as Lent, Good Friday, Easter, and Christ's Mass, or, as it is
generally written, Christmas. ... some of these festivals ... when
they are turned into church festivals, they certainly come under
the condemnation of Galatians 4:9-11, where the Holy Spirit warns
against the observance of days and months and times and seasons.
All of them, and many more that might be added, are Babylonish in
their origin, and were at one time linked with the Ashtoreth and
Tammuz mystery-worship. It is through Rome that they have come
down to us; and we do well to remember that Babylon is a mother,
with daughters who are likely to partake of their mother's
characteristics ..."
And, finally, from Alexander Hislop's 1916 classic, The Two
Babylons: Or the Papal Worship:
"Upright men strove to stem the tide, but in spite of all their
efforts, the apostasy went on, till the Church, with the exception
of a small remnant, was submerged under Pagan superstition. That
Christmas is a Pagan festival is beyond all doubt. The time of the
year and the ceremonies with which it is still celebrated, prove its
origin."
We can summarize by saying that nowhere in Scripture are we
commanded to commemorate the birth of our Lord, and God the
Father evidently deemed it unwise to make the date known. Hence, it
will always remain unknown and is not to be ceremoniously
remembered and celebrated. (In fact, as pointed out in the Ironside
quote above, God has warned us about getting entangled with any
special days [Gal. 4:10]). Notice though, that we are commanded to
remember Him in His death (but no special day was specified for this
either):
"Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; this DO in
remembrance of Me" (Luke 22:18,19; 1 Cor. 11:23-26).
To commemorate His death is Scriptural. Any day of the year will do.
To commemorate His birth is non-Scriptural, even extra-Scriptural
(Deut. 4:2; 12:32; Prov. 30:6; Rev. 22:19), whether one chooses
December 25th or any other day.
If God had desired us to remember the day of Christ's birth, He
could have left us the precise date. But if He had, He would have
vindicated every astrologer in the past 2,000 years. In occult circles,
the anniversary of a person's birth is the most important
metaphysical day of the year. The Bible recognizes no such
significance. It is intriguing that there are only two birthday
celebrations recorded in the entire Bible and they were both those of
ungodly kings -- and both resulted in an execution (Gen. 40:16-22 and
Matt. 14:6-10/Mark 6:21-27)!
The Apostle Paul says: "But God forbid that I should glory, save in
the cross [ not the manger] of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the
world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Gal. 6:14). By
itself, we find no salvation in the birth of the Lord Jesus, for
salvation was only made possible through His death (i.e., His shed
blood) and resurrection. Our focus should be on the cross and our
ascended Savior, not in a cradle.
Those who love Jesus should certainly rejoice that He was born and
lived amongst us as a man. But if we truly want to glorify Him and
bear testimony of who He is, we must stop marrying that blessed gift
with the debauchery of paganism. If we want to honor His birth, let it
be done as He would have done it: year-round unselfishly serving our
fellow man as an unending act of love for our God. Let us put away
all of the mixture of pagan customs and take up His mantle and His
pure worship, and show the confused world that there is a
difference.

Was Peter the First Pope and Head of the Church?
We often hear it said that Peter was the first head of the church.
If this is true, surely we would expect such a major doctrine to be
plainly stated in the Bible. So consider what we find in Scripture.
We hear it said that Peter was the head of the church, but
Ephesians 1:22,23 says that Jesus was head over the church and
all things are under His feet. Ephesians 5:22,23 says Jesus is head
of the church like a husband is head of his wife, but the Bible
clearly teaches that a woman can have only one husband as her
head. So how could the church have both Peter and Jesus as
head?
We hear it said that Peter's office is the foundation on which the church is
built. But 1 Corinthians 3:11 says no one can lay any foundation other
than Jesus Christ.
We hear it said that the man who heads the church cannot be married. But
in Matthew 8:14 Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law, so Peter was married.
And 1 Timothy 4:1-3 speaks against the doctrine that forbids marriage.
We hear it said that people should bow to honor the man who heads the
church. But in Acts 10:25,26 Peter refused to allow a man to bow to him.
He said, "Get up, I myself also am a man."
We hear people use terms like "holy Father" to exalt the man who is said
to be the head of the church. But in Matthew 23:9 Jesus said not to exalt
men with such religious titles, because "one is your Father, who is in
heaven."
We hear it said that modern religious leaders are successors of the
apostles. But Acts 1:21,22 shows that, in order to be an apostle, one had to
be an eyewitness that Jesus had been raised from the dead.
Surely Peter was an important and influential apostle in the early church.
But why does the Bible nowhere describe him as participating in these
things that the head of the church is supposed to do?
For more information about Peter as Pope,

Was Peter the First Pope and Head of the Church?
We often hear it said that Peter was the first head of the church.
If this is true, surely we would expect such a major doctrine to be
plainly stated in the Bible. So consider what we find in Scripture.
We hear it said that Peter was the head of the church, but
Ephesians 1:22,23 says that Jesus was head over the church and
all things are under His feet. Ephesians 5:22,23 says Jesus is head
of the church like a husband is head of his wife, but the Bible
clearly teaches that a woman can have only one husband as her
head. So how could the church have both Peter and Jesus as
head?
We hear it said that Peter's office is the foundation on which the church is
built. But 1 Corinthians 3:11 says no one can lay any foundation other
than Jesus Christ.
We hear it said that the man who heads the church cannot be married. But
in Matthew 8:14 Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law, so Peter was married.
And 1 Timothy 4:1-3 speaks against the doctrine that forbids marriage.
We hear it said that people should bow to honor the man who heads the
church. But in Acts 10:25,26 Peter refused to allow a man to bow to him.
He said, "Get up, I myself also am a man."
We hear people use terms like "holy Father" to exalt the man who is said
to be the head of the church. But in Matthew 23:9 Jesus said not to exalt
men with such religious titles, because "one is your Father, who is in
heaven."
We hear it said that modern religious leaders are successors of the
apostles. But Acts 1:21,22 shows that, in order to be an apostle, one had to
be an eyewitness that Jesus had been raised from the dead.
Surely Peter was an important and influential apostle in the early church.
But why does the Bible nowhere describe him as participating in these
things that the head of the church is supposed to do?
For more information about Peter as Pope,

Part II. How Did the Modern Denominations Begin?
Jesus built one church, and the Bible tells us what it should be like. Today
there are many different denominations. Is God pleased by their
existence? Where did they come from?
A. Warnings of Departure from the Gospel
>>> Read ACTS 20:28-30. <<<
*48* What danger does Paul warn about? (a) following the Bible too
closely, (b) condemning sin too firmly, (c) following false teachers.
*49* Can religious leaders lead people into error? (a) yes, (b) no.
>>> Read 2 TIMOTHY 4:2-4. <<<
*50* What error will people be guilty of? (a) turning away from truth, (b)
rebuking false teachers, (c) being too intolerant.
*51* What kind of teachers will they want? (a) men who preach truth, (b)
men who please the people, (c) men who oppose error.
>>> Read 1 TIMOTHY 4:1-3. <<<
*52* What does the Spirit predict will happen? (a) everyone will be saved,
(b) the saved will never be lost, (c) some will depart from the faith and
follow error, (d) all the preceding.
*53* What particular doctrines will be taught? (a) it is wrong to eat meats,
(b) people should not marry, (c) both of the preceding.
Throughout history, false teachers have tried to lead God's people astray.
In particular, Jesus warned that error would enter among the leaders of His
people, and some would even forbid marriage and command to abstain
from meats. To please Jesus, however, God's true people must reject these
false teachings. (See also Matthew 7:15-23; Galatians 1:6-10; 1 John
4:1,6; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2 John 9-11; Ephesians 5:11; Matthew
15:14.)
B. The Beginning of the Catholic Church
In Jesus' plan for His church, He is to be the only head, and no man-made
laws or earthly headquarters are allowed. No officers may oversee more
than one local church.
However, after the church began, departure occurred as time passed, just
as predicted in the Scriptures above. Certain congregations began to exalt
one elder above the others. As new churches began, this exalted "bishop"
would assume the oversight of several churches in a region called a
"diocese."
Soon, bishops were meeting in councils to issue "church laws." The first
universal council, to which all churches were invited to send
representatives, was held in Nicea in 325 A.D. Later, discussion arose
regarding who would be the earthly head of the whole church. Finally, in
the sixth or seventh century A.D., the Bishop of Rome was generally
recognized as "Pope." Clearly, this is a departure from Jesus' plan for
church organization.
Meanwhile, the church was adopting other new practices. Listed below are
the approximate dates when many of the practices came to be generally
accepted. (Note: This historical information can be documented by
checking encyclopedias or church history books, including Catholic
sources.)
PRACTICE DATE
Use of images in worship 4th century
Infant baptism 4th century
Celibacy of priests 4th century
Purgatory 6th century
Instrumental music (first used) 7th century
Confession to priest 9th century
Indulgences 12th century
Sprinkling for baptism 1311
Cup withheld from laity 1416
Infallibility of the Pope 1870
Note especially celibacy, which forbids priests to marry. The Catholic
church has also commanded members to abstain from meats on Fridays
during Lent. This expressly fulfills 1 Timothy 4:1-3.
The changes we have described resulted in the Roman Catholic church.
"By their fruits you shall know them" (Matt. 7:15-21). Does the Catholic
church show the fruits of being Jesus' church?
Contrary to its claims, the Catholic church is not truly "the first church,"
but is rather the first major apostasy from the true church. If we wish to
find Jesus' church, we must look elsewhere. (Note that we have no desire
to hurt people in any particular religious group. We present these facts so
people can know the truth and honor Jesus as their Lord - Luke 6:46; Rev.
3:19.)
C. The Beginning of Protestant Denominations
As Rome departed further from God's word, many Catholics began to
object. At that time the church allowed only Latin translations of the
Bible, which the common people could not understand. In the 1400's and
1500's, men like John Wycliffe and William Tyndale translated the Bible
into English. For this, the church burned Wycliffe's bones and made a
martyr of Tyndale!
In 1517, a Catholic monk named Martin Luther nailed his "95 Theses" (or
points of disagreement) to the door of a church building in Wittenburg,
Germany. Other men like Zwingli and Calvin joined the movement of
"protest," not to start a new church, but to "reform" the Catholic church.
Unable to sway the church, however, each of these men (or their
followers) eventually began a new church separate from Rome and
separate from the other Protestant churches.
Here are some examples:
NAME DATE PLACE FOUNDER
Lutheran 1530 Germany Martin Luther
Church of England 1534 England Henry VIII
Presbyterian 1536 Switzerland John Calvin
Baptist 1609 Holland John Smyth
Methodist 1739 England John Wesley
Mormon 1830 America Joseph Smith
7th Day Adventist 1846 America Miller/White
Jehovah's Witnesses 1872 America C. Russell
(Again, this information can be verified in any good encyclopedia or
church history, including those written by men in the churches listed. Note
that some dates are approximate.)
Remember, "by their fruits you shall know them" (Matt. 7:15-21). Let us
compare the fruits of these denominations to the characteristics of Jesus'
church.
Authority - Most denominations have creeds the church follows as law in
addition to the Bible.
Origin - No Protestant denomination existed as an organized, functioning
body, separate from the Catholic apostasy, prior to 1500 AD. They were
all begun by men in times and places other than the day of Pentecost in
Jerusalem (Acts 2).
Name - Nearly all denominations have names invented by men and not
found in the gospel. Their names honor men and special doctrines, not
God and Christ.
Salvation - Most denominations practice sprinkling, pouring, and infant
baptism. Most teach salvation by "faith only" (baptism is not necessary to
salvation).
Worship - Most practice annual or monthly communion, instrumental
music, holy days, tithing and other man-made fund-raising methods.
Work - Most denominations practice the "Social Gospel" - church-
sponsored recreation, entertainment, etc.
Organization - Nearly all denominations have earthly headquarters,
central governing bodies, boards and institutions of all kinds that
centralize the work and government of the church.
Protestant leaders had some admirable goals, but all of them (or their
followers) clung to many basic errors of Catholicism and even added
some new ones. Every Protestant denomination differs from the church of
Christ on many or all of the above points. Yet God forbids such departures
from His way and warns us not to be part of such groups. Again, if we
wish to find the church belonging to Jesus, we must look elsewhere.
D. God's Attitude Toward Religious Division
Denominations are divided, contradicting and disagreeing with one
another. People often say, "All the churches are following Jesus. It doesn't
matter where you attend, or what you believe, as long as you worship the
true God. Just join the church of your choice." What does Jesus say? Is He
pleased by all these denominations?
>>> Read JOHN 17:20,21. <<<
*54* In what way should we be like the Father and the Son? (a) we must
overlook division, (b) we must be united as one, (c) we must tolerate
error.
*55* In what ways do the Father and the Son contradict one another? (a)
about how to worship, (b) about how to be saved, (c) about what church to
attend, (d) none of the preceding. (See also John 12:49,50.)
The existence of many different churches contradicts Jesus' prayer for
unity.
>>> Read 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10,13. <<<
*56* Is God pleased by division? (a) yes, (b) no.
*57* Are denominations (a) united, or (b) divided?
*58* Is Christ divided? Does He contradict Himself? (a) yes, (b) no.
*59* Jesus does not contradict Himself, but churches do contradict one
another. So are "all the churches following Jesus"? (a) yes, (b) no.
When a preacher knowingly preaches contradictory things to different
people, we call him a hypocrite. But denominations contradict one
another, yet they all say they get their teaching from Jesus. What would
that make Jesus?! Denominationalism violates God's law against division
(Galatians 5:19-21; Philippians 2:2f).
>>> Read 1 CORINTHIANS 14:33. <<<
*60* Is God the author of confusion? (a) yes, (b) no.
*61* Is the existence of many churches confusing? (a) yes, (b) no.
*62* Is God the source of all the denominations? (a) yes, (b) no.
God did not create the modern denominations, so they must have been
begun by men. They are not in the Bible, therefore they exist contrary to
God's authority. When churches disagree, one may be right and the others
wrong, or they may all be wrong, but they cannot all be right!
>>> Read EPHESIANS 4:3-6. <<<
*63* What should we strive to keep? (a) miracles for today, (b) unity, (c)
a pope, (d) all the preceding.
*64* How many true "God and Fathers" are there? (a) one, (b) hundreds,
(c) it does not matter.
*65* Can we please God if we think there are many Gods and we may just
worship the god of our choice? (a) yes, (b) no.
*66* How many "bodies" and "faiths" are there? (a) hundreds, (b) one, (c)
it does not matter.
*67* Can we please God if we think there are hundreds of different bodies
and faiths, so it doesn't matter what we believe and we can just take our
choice? (a) yes, (b) no.
There may be many false gods, but there is only one true God, according
to Jesus' teaching. In the same way, there is only one true body (church)
and only one true faith. All others are false. [Cf. 1 Corinthians 12:12-20]
>>> Read 2 CORINTHIANS 6:17-17:1. <<<
*68* What must we do to be God's true children? (a) just follow our
preacher, (b) keep our family religion, (c) separate from error.
*69* May we continue to be part of churches and practices that are not
found in the gospel? (a) yes, (b) no.
Jesus the Lord established one church. Denominations did not exist in the
New Testament, and division is condemned. Jesus requires us to follow
His same gospel pattern, but Catholic and Protestant churches are
departures from His pattern. Therefore, we must not be members of any of
these groups. Are you a member of one of these man-made churches? [Cf.
2 John 9-11; Eph. 5:11; Matt. 15:14]
E. The Existence of Jesus' True Church Today
If we cannot find the true church among the Protestant or Catholic
churches, where can we find it? Does it exist? Since we must be members
of it to be saved, how can people today be saved?
>>> Read 1 PETER 1:22-25. <<<
*70* How do we purify our souls? (a) just believe in Jesus, (b) obey the
truth, (c) pray to Mary.
*71* What is the seed by which we are born again? (a) God's word, (b)
human creeds, (c) denominational doctrine, (d) all the preceding.
*72* How long will this seed endure? (a) till the middle ages, (b) till the
1800's, (c) forever.
"The seed is the word of God" - Luke 8:11. God's creations, including the
church, reproduce by means of seed. When men hear the gospel with
receptive hearts, they will believe and obey. As a result, they are "born
again" into God's family, the church. (See James 1:18; Luke 8:15; Romans
1:16; 10:17; Mark 16:15,16; John 3:3-5.)
>>> Read GALATIANS 6:7. <<<
The seed always reproduces after its own kind. To get the right "fruit," we
must plant the right "seed"! The reason denominations do not produce the
right fruit is that they plant the wrong seed.
*73* When a seed grows, what kind of plant results? (a) the same kind as
the seed came from, (b) it changes from year to year, (c) you never know.
(cf. Genesis 1:11,21ff)
At any time or place, the same seed always produces the same kind of
living thing. This is also true of doctrines.
*74* Suppose you believed and obeyed Buddhist doctrine. What would
that make you? (a) a Christian, (b) a Hindu, (c) a Buddhist.
Man-made doctrines reproduce after their own kind and make people
members of man-made religious groups.
*75* In the first century, when people heard and obeyed the gospel of
Christ, what kind of Christians did they become and what church did they
become members of? (a) Lutherans, (b) Catholics, (c) just Christians,
members of Jesus' church.
*76* If you were to obey simply the gospel today, without any man-made
changes, what kind of Christian would you become and what church would
that make you a member of? (a) the same as in the first century, (b) a
modern denomination, (c) no one knows.
Anytime and anyplace, when a person obeys only the gospel, he becomes a
Christian, exactly like people were in the first century. They were not
members of any of the modern denominations and neither should people
today be. The Lord will add people today to His church, just as He did in
the first century (Acts 2:47). These saved people must then work and
worship with a faithful local church.
Conclusion
People who wish to be saved must be members of the Lord's one true
church. Faithful local congregations of God's people already exist in
thousands of communities throughout the world. Wherever they are, they
seek to follow simply God's word without any human changes. Members
of these churches have humbly received forgiveness through Jesus' blood
according to the gospel. They are scriptural in name, origin, worship,
work, and organization.
Since salvation is free to all, you too can obey the gospel and enter Jesus'
true church (Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 1:16; Acts 2:39; Titus 2:11,12; 2
Peter 3:9).
Do you believe the truths presented in this lesson? Will you submit to
Jesus' commands today?
Correct answers to the questions are as follows:
*1* = a, *2* = b, *3* = b, *4* = b, *5* = a, *6* = c, *7* = a, *8* = c, *9*
= b, *10* = a, *11* = c, *12* = a, *13* = b, *14* = b, *15* = c, *16* = b,
*17* = b, *18* = a, *19* = b, *20* = d, *21* = b, *22* = b, *23* = d, *24*
= c, *25* = b, *26* = a, *27* = a, *28* = b, *29* = c, *30* = c, *31* = b,
*32* = b, *33* = a, *34* = b, *35* = a, *36* = b, *37* = c, *38* = b, *39*
= c, *40* = c, *41* = b, *42* = a, *43* = a, *44* = a, *45* = d, *46* = c,
*47* = b, *48* = c, *49* = a, *50* = a, *51* = b, *52* = c, *53* = c, *54*
= b, *55* = d, *56* = b, *57* = b, *58* = b, *59* = b, *60* = b, *61* = a,
*62* = b, *63* = b, *64* = a, *65* = b, *66* = b, *67* = b, *68* = c, *69*
= b, *70* = b, *71* = a, *72* = c, *73* = a, *74* = c, *75* = c, *76* = a

Part I: What Should Jesus' Church Be Like?
If the police were searching for a missing person, how would they identify
the correct person? They would need a description or list of identifying
characteristics: age, name, height, weight, etc.
Now suppose we want to find the church that belongs to Jesus. How can
we identify it?
>>> Read MATTHEW 7:15-21. <<<
*6* How can false teachers be identified? (a) by their outward appearance,
(b) by their unkind manners, (c) by their fruits.
*7* What are the "fruits" of God's followers? (a) they do the will of the
Father, (b) they just call Jesus "Lord," (c) they just believe.
The true church can be identified because it teaches and practices the will
of God. By learning Jesus' will for His church, we can know the
identifying marks of His church. [Cf. 1 John 2:3-6]
Consider these characteristics:
A. The Doctrinal Standard of the Church
What law or rules should the church follow to determine what it
believes, teaches, and practices?
>>> Read EPHESIANS 1:22,23. <<<
*8* Who is Head over all things to the church? (a) John the Baptist, (b)
Peter, (c) Jesus.
*9* Whose control, then, should the church submit to? (a) Mohammed,
(b) Jesus, (c) a council of men.
>>> Read COLOSSIANS 3:17. <<<
*10* What must be done in Jesus' name (by His authority)? (a) everything
we do, (b) only the things we want to do, (c) whatever a preacher says.
Since Jesus built and purchased the church, it must follow His directions.
His will is revealed in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 14:37; 2
Timothy 3:16,17; Ephesians 3:3-5).
(See also Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18; 2:19; John 12:48; Acts
3:22,23; Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 6:46; Hebrews 5:9.)
May the church follow man-made laws?
>>> Read 2 JOHN 9. <<<
*11* What is our condition if we do not abide in the teachings of Jesus?
(a) God overlooks it, (b) we get another chance after death, (c) we do not
have the Father or Son.
>>> Read MATTHEW 15:9. <<<
*12* What does God think of worship that is based on man-made
teachings? (a) it is vain, (b) He encourages it, (c) it doesn't matter.
>>> Read GALATIANS 1:8,9. <<<
*13* What happens if we preach a gospel different from the New
Testament? (a) nothing, (b) we are accursed, (c) no one knows.
*14* Would a church be honoring Jesus as Lord if it follows doctrines or
practices not found in the Bible? (a) yes, (b) no.
If Jesus' church exists today, it must strive to listen to all His teachings
and must avoid practices not found in His teachings.
(See Revelation 22:18,19; Proverbs 14:12; 3:5,6; Jeremiah 10:23.)
B. The Origin or Beginning of the Church
>>> Read MATTHEW 16:15-18. <<<
*15* What did Jesus promise to build? (a) a social club, (b) an
entertainment, recreational club, (c) His church, (d) all the preceding.
*16* Did the church exist when Jesus said this? (a) yes, (b) no.
*17* To whom would the church belong? (a) Peter, (b) Jesus, (c) John the
Baptist.
*18* How many churches did Jesus promise to build? (a) one, (b) ten, (c)
hundreds.
This passage and all passages before Acts 2 speak of the church as coming
in the future (see also Isaiah 2:2,3; Daniel 2:44; Mark 1:15; 9:1; Acts
1:4-.
But passages after Acts 2 all speak of the church as being in existence (see
Acts 2:47; 5:11; 8:1-3; 11:22,26; Colossians 1:13; etc.).
So the church that belongs to Jesus began in Jerusalem on Pentecost after
Jesus' ascension (Acts 2:38,41,47).
*19* Suppose men begin a church at a place and time other than
Jerusalem on Pentecost. Would it be Jesus' church? (a) yes, (b) no.
We are looking for the church Jesus began on Pentecost in Jerusalem.
C. The Names or Designations of the Church
Names are important to God. He sometimes named people before they
were born, or changed their names later (Genesis 17:5,15,19; 32:27,28;
Luke 1:13; Matt. 1:21; Isaiah 62:2; etc.). What terms or phrases does the
Lord want us to use to refer to the church and its members?
Terms used for the church:
The church of Christ or of God (Matthew 16:18; Romans 16:16; 1
Corinthians 1:2; etc.).
The house or family of God (1 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 2:16,19;
Galatians 6:10).
The kingdom of Christ (Colossians 1:13; Matthew 16:18,19; Revelation
1:9; Hebrews 12:28).
The body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22,23; 4:4-6; Colossians 1:18).
Note that all these terms give honor to God the Father or the Son, and
show our relationship to them.
Terms used for individual members of the church:
Disciples (Acts 11:26; 20:7; 8:3; 9:1).
Children of God (2 Corinthians 6:16-18; 1 John 3:2).
Christians (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16).
>>> Read 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-13. <<<
*20* What sin occurred at Corinth? (a) groups were named after men, (b)
men were exalted instead of Jesus, (c) division, (d) all the preceding.
Naming the church after a particular doctrine likewise violates the
principles of this passage, promotes division, and fails to exalt God.
One of the fruits of Jesus' church was that it wore names that glorify God
and Christ. It never wore names that honor men, were invented by men, or
exalted some particular Bible doctrine.
D. The Steps to Enter the Church
Some churches teach that there are some things a person must do to be
saved, and then afterward there are other things he must do to join the
church. But the church is the body of all saved people (Ephesians 5:23,25;
Acts 20:28; Colossians 1:13). Therefore, whenever one receives the
forgiveness of his sins, he automatically becomes a member of the church
at the same time and by the same steps.
You cannot be voted into the Lord's church, you cannot purchase
membership in it, and you cannot "join" it. You simply obey the gospel
and let God add you (Acts 2:47).
To be forgiven of sins, one must take the following steps:
Hear the gospel (John 6:44,45; Romans 10:17).
Believe it (Romans 1:16; Hebrews 11:6; John 8:24).
Repent (Acts 17:30; 2 Corinthians 7:10; 2 Peter 3:9).
Confess Christ (Romans 10:9,10; Acts 8:37).
Be baptized (immersed) for the purpose of receiving forgiveness (Acts
2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3,4; 1 Peter 3:21).
At baptism, one's sins are forgiven and the Lord then adds him to the
church (Acts 2:38,47; 1 Corinthians 12:13).
*21* Suppose a church teaches some other way for people to be saved.
Would it be honoring Jesus as Lord? (a) yes, (b) no.
*22* In fact, would the people in that church even have received
forgiveness of sins? (a) yes, (b) no.
We are looking for the church that teaches just what the gospel says about
salvation.
E. The Worship Offered in the Church Assemblies
The Lord taught His church to do five things when they meet.
1. Teaching
>>>Read ACTS 2:42. <<<
*23* In what activities did these disciples continue steadfastly? (a) the
apostles' doctrine, (b) prayer, (c) breaking of bread, (d) all the preceding.
We should teach only God's word, not man's. (cf. Acts 20:7; 11:26;
Hebrews 10:24f.)
2. Prayer (see Acts 2:42 above)
In Bible study, God talks to us. In prayer, we talk to God. (cf. 1
Corinthians 14:15; Philippians 4:6; Acts 4:23-31; 1 Timothy 2:5.)
3. Giving
>>>Read 1 CORINTHIANS 16:1,2. <<<
*24* How did the church obtain financial income? (a) raffles, bingo, (b)
bake-sales, rummages, (c) collections, (d) all the preceding.
*25* When were the collections taken up? (a) seventh day of the week, (b)
first day of the week, (c) as often as possible.
*26* How did the members decide how much to give? (a) according to
prosperity, (b) the preacher decided for them, (c) they gave a tenth.
The church took up collections from the members on the first day of the
week. Each member gave generously according to prosperity. The church
never used tithing (requiring 10%), nor man-made fund-raising methods
like bingo, raffles, rummages, etc. (cf. 2 Cor. 8:1-5; 9:6,7.)
4. Lord's Supper (communion or breaking of bread)
>>> Read 1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-26. <<<
*27* What do the bread and cup remind us of? (a) Jesus' body and blood,
(b) the creation, (b) the giving of the 10 commands.
*28* Would it be right to have bacon and eggs on the Lord's table? (a) yes,
(b) no.
We should eat the bread and drink the fruit of the vine in memory of
Jesus' body and blood. (cf. Matthew 26:17-30; Acts 2:42):
>>> Read ACTS 20:7. <<<
*29* When did the disciples break bread? (a) at Easter and Christmas, (b)
on the last day of the week, (c) on the first day of the week.
*30* How often does this day occur? (a) once per year, (b) once per
month, (c) once per week.
When God has specified memorial feasts, He has always told people when
to do them. If He said to do it on a certain day of a certain month of the
year, it would be an annual feast (Ex. 12:6,14,24ff; Lev. 23:24,27). If He
said to do it on a certain day of the month, it would be a monthly
observance (Ezek. 46:1,6,7). If He said to do it on a certain day of the
week, then it would be observed weekly (such as the sabbath - Ex.
20:8-11).
Likewise, since God has revealed that disciples had the Lord's supper on
the first day of the week, we should do it as often as that day occurs. Note
that this is the same day on which we have the collection. Some churches
have annual or monthly communion. Do they also take up collections only
annually or monthly?!
5. Singing
>>> Read EPHESIANS 5:19. <<<
*31* What act of worship is commanded here? (a) prayer, (b) singing, (c)
none.
*32* Is God pleased if we just mouth the words? (a) yes, (b) no.
*33* What purposes are accomplished by singing? (a) praising God and
teaching others, (b) showing off musical ability, (c) entertainment to draw
big crowds.
Every New Testament passage that mentions music in worship, specifies
singing (Colossians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 14:15; Romans 15:9; Hebrews
2:12; James 5:13). There are two kinds of music - singing (vocal) and
playing (instrumental).
*34* Since Jesus expressly says to "sing," are we honoring Jesus if we add
another kind of music (playing on instruments)? (a) yes, (b) no.
To use instruments of music in worship is to follow human authority. It
fails to honor Jesus just like bacon and eggs on the Lord's Table.
>>> Read HEBREWS 10:25. <<<
*35* What error should Christians avoid? (a) forsaking the assembling
together, (b) giving too much money, (c) attending too often.
*36* Would a church be following Jesus as Lord if it worshipped in ways
that are not found in the gospel? (a) yes, (b) no.
Note: Individual Christians should study the Bible, pray, and sing
regularly in private, but in this lesson we are considering our praise to
God in church meetings.
We are looking for the church that worships God just the way the New
Testament teaches. When we find it, we should strive diligently to attend
whenever the church meets.
F. The Work or Mission of the Church
>>> Read ACTS 11:26. <<<
*37* What work did the church in Antioch accomplish? (a) entertainment
and recreation, (b) social functions, (c) assembling to teach and study
God's word.
The church is the "pillar and ground of the truth" - 1 Timothy 3:15. It
teaches the gospel to the lost and edifies the members (see also Acts
11:22; 20:7; Hebrews 10:24,25; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 4:14-18).
The church also cares for its own physically needy members (Acts
4:32-35; 6:1-6; 1 Corinthians 16:1,2; 2 Corinthians 8 & 9; 1 Timothy
5:16).
The primary work of the church is spiritual. It helps people be right with
God so they can receive eternal life. The church we are looking for is not a
social or recreational club, nor a general welfare society. Any church that
does these other works fails to honor the Lord. (See also John 18:36;
6:63,27; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.)
G. The Organization of the Church
Universal Church Government
>>> Read EPHESIANS 1:22,23. <<<
*38* Who is head over the church? (a) Peter, (b) Jesus, (c) some other
man.
*39* He is head over how many things to the church? (a) things in heaven
only, (b) things on earth only, (c) all things.
*40* What is left for men to be head over? (a) church laws, (b) things on
earth, (c) nothing.
*41* Where is Jesus now (Hebrews 8:1; 1 Peter 3:22)? (a) Jerusalem, (b)
heaven, (c) Rome.
*42* Then where is the headquarters of Jesus church? (a) heaven, (b)
Rome, (c) Salt Lake City.
As Head of the church, Jesus has made all the laws and revealed them in
His word. His church has no earthly headquarters or governing body. No
man or group of men may make laws for the church.
Local Church Organization
A local church consists of saints (members) with the bishops and deacons
(Philippians 1:1).
>>> Read ACTS 20:17,28. <<<
*43* What is the work of elders? (a) oversee and feed (shepherd) the
church, (b) make laws, (c) just the same as the other members.
*44* How many flocks (churches) did these elders oversee (v17)? (a) the
one at Ephesus, (b) all those in the surrounding region, (c) all churches in
the world.
>>> Read 1 PETER 5:1-3. <<<
*45* What is the work of elders? (a) feed (shepherd) the flock, (b) oversee
the church, (c) set a good example, (d) all the preceding.
*46* An eldership should have oversight of the work of how many
churches? (a) as many as they can, (b) as many as will send them money,
(c) the one among them.
(Note that "elder" is just another name for an overseer or "bishop" and a
shepherd or "pastor."
Each local church must work to appoint a plurality of elders (Acts 14:23).
To be appointed, these men must possess certain qualifications (1
Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). When they have been appointed, they guide
the local church in obeying God's word. The oversight of each eldership is
limited to the one local church where they have been appointed.
One of the fruits of Jesus' church is that Christ is the only Head. There is
no earthly headquarters or centralized institutions, but each congregation
functions independently under its own officers.
*47* If a church follows human changes in this pattern, would it be
honoring Jesus as Lord? (a) yes, (b) no.
We have now studied the "fruits" or characteristics of Jesus' church. Since
God is no respecter of persons, He still requires His church to possess
these same characteristics today. If we seek Jesus' church, we must find
the one that follows His will in all these ways. Any church that does not
have these characteristics, cannot be the church Jesus built.

How Can You Find and Identify
the Church That Belongs To Jesus?
According to the New Testament, Jesus built His church and added all
saved people to it. What standard of authority, pattern, doctrine, or
creed did that church follow? What was its worship, work, name,
origin, and doctrine of salvation and forgiveness of sins? Did it have
an earthly organization, hierarchy, or centralized headquarters? How
does modern "Christianity" compare to the church of Christ? How
did Roman Catholicism and the denominations of the Protestant
Reformation originate in history? Does Jesus' church exist today? If
so, what characteristics should we seek in finding and identifying it?
Introduction
All serious Bible students agree that Jesus built only one church, and at
that time all saved people were in that one church (Matt. 16:18; Acts
2:47). But today there are actually hundreds of different denominations,
differing from one another in name, authority, worship, organization, plan
of salvation and forgiveness of sins, etc. Yet all claim to be Christian, to
follow Jesus, and to be pleasing to God.
The purpose of this study is to determine what Jesus wants us to
practice regarding church membership. What was Jesus' church like in
the first century? Does the church that Jesus built still exist today? If so,
how can we find and identify it? What does God think about all the many
different modern Catholic and Protestant denominations?
Now please take out your Bible and look up the >>> CAPITALIZED
Scriptures <<<. Then study for you own benefit each question marked **.
You may find a list of correct answers at the end of the study. ( Note: This
article is not intended to be submitted to us for grading. However, if you
wish to study this material as part of a graded course, please go to our
online Bible courses at www.BibleStudyLessons.com. Thank you.)
How important is Jesus' church?
Why should we study about Jesus' church? Some people think the church
has nothing to do with salvation, so you can be saved outside the church.
How important is the church to Jesus the Lord?
>>> Read ACTS 20:28. <<<
*1* How did Jesus make the church His? (a) He bought it with His blood,
(b) He came to set up an earthly kingdom but couldn't, so He made the
church instead, (c) somebody gave the church to Him.
*2* Can we be saved without Jesus' blood? (a) yes, (b) no.
*3* Then can we be saved outside Jesus' church? (a) yes, (b) no.
Jesus shed His blood to save us from sin (Ephesians 1:7; Revelation 1:5;
Romans 5:6-9). But the people who have been saved and purchased by that
blood are the people who are in the church!
>>> Read EPHESIANS 5:23,25. <<<
*4* For whom is Christ the Savior? (a) the nation of Israel only, (b) the
body (church), (c) all people will be saved.
*5* For whom did He give Himself? (a) the church, (b) white, middle-
class Americans only, (c) it doesn't matter.
Salvation can be obtained only through Jesus (Acts 4:12; John 14:6;
Hebrews 5:9; 7:25). But the body of people whom Jesus has saved is the
church. If the church has nothing to do with our salvation, why did the
Lord die for it?
The Lord adds to the church those who should be saved - Acts 2:47. Christ
is the Savior; but all those whose sins He has forgiven are in the church.
Those outside the church are yet in their sins. This is why it is vitally
important for us to learn about Jesus' church. (See also Ephesians 3:10,11;
Colossians 1:12-14; Hebrews 10:25; etc.)
The word "church" has different meanings.
In the Bible, the "church" always refers to a group of people, never to a
physical building. The word has two primary uses:
1. The church universally - the body of all saved people everywhere
(Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 5:22-25; Acts 2:47).
2. The church locally - a congregation of saved people in a certain area
who meet, work, and worship together (Jerusalem, Corinth, etc. - Acts 8:1;
13:1; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:2; Revelation 1:4).
We will study many examples of this word as we proceed.
First let us study the characteristics of the New Testament church, then we
will study the origin of the modern denominations.

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