Identifying the Church
A guest post by Chad Ramsey.
Isaiah’s Prophecy About the Church.
Writing some 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, the prophet Isaiah issued a detailed prophecy about the church. In part, he wrote:
“Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it” (Isaiah 2:2).
This verse provides a reference to the time of the church’s establishment—“in the latter days” (cf. Daniel 2:44 and Hebrews 1:1-2). Additionally, the passage also indicates the prominence of the new body—it will be like a mountain that sits on the top of other mountains, and the text likewise describes its scope, for “all nations shall flow to it.”
If we knew nothing more about the church, we could know that it came into existence during the final dispensation, that it occupies a prominent position, and that all men, no matter what one’s race or nationality, have the opportunity to be a part of it.
But we do know a great deal more.
In this same prophecy, Isaiah went on to identify the place of the church’s establishment as Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3), and he also described the peaceful character of this new body by stating: “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4).
New Testament Descriptions of the Church.
If we are to identify the church, we must find the body that fulfills the criteria set forth in this and other Old Testament prophecies. But besides this, the church must also exhibit the qualities described throughout the New Testament.
It must have Jesus as its builder (Matthew 16:18).
It must wear the appropriate name (Romans 16:16).
It must act under the authority of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23).
It must be united in doctrine and practice (Ephesians 4:4-6).
And it must be pure (Ephesians 5:25-27).
When he described the church, Paul wrote:
“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11).
Although many churches exist in our present age, there is quite a difference in being a part of a church that was founded by man and being part of the church that was founded by and upon Christ.
The Church Belonging to Jesus.
Jesus made this very point when speaking with His apostles. After Peter identified Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16), Jesus promised: “on this rock I will build My church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
The church belongs to Him and no other!
Consequently, we must conclude that the true church is the one built by Jesus. As the builder, He is the one who is in control. Man has no right to change or alter the plan that our Savior has put into place.
Additionally, it should be observed that the church Jesus promised to build is singular in nature. Jesus did not promise to build many churches—He promised to build His church! The church belongs to Jesus, for He purchased it with His own blood (Acts 20:28).
Chad Ramsey preaches for the Gloster Street Church of Christ in Tupelo, Mississippi. You can access their Bible classes and Chad’s sermons on Gloster Street’s YouTube page.
Chad was - and still is - “my preacher” from when I spent my high school and early college years at Gloster Street. I’m thankful to be able to share some of his writings with you.
Excellent lesson. Thank you. I came out of the protestant churches and then the born-again sinners' prayer movement way back. How blessed I am to have been confronted with the gospel and to be added to the Lord's church. Each generation has to come to realize the uniqueness of the one church, the body of Christ. Your lesson is one that we need to teach often.
You quote Isaiah 2:2 and say it is talking about the Church, but Isaiah 2:1 says it is clearly talking about Judah - which is Israel:
The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
(Isa 2:1-3)
Downplaying the role of Israel in relation to the Church has been done for the past 2000 years by the false Church. Israel is a very important part of the plan of God and should not be relegated and ignored as you have done.